NJ Joins Coalition Fighting to Preserve $350M in New Jersey Public Health Funding

Lawsuit Targets HHS Decision to End Federal Grants, Threatening Key Initiatives on Disease Control, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and officials from 23 other states, plus the District of Columbia, have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., aiming to halt the abrupt termination of nearly $11 billion in public health grants. This federal funding includes more than $350 million specifically allocated for critical New Jersey programs designed to fight infectious diseases, expand mental health services, and bolster emergency preparedness.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, contends that HHS is illegally ending grants “for cause” by asserting that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. New Jersey officials argue that the federal action is neither legally valid nor supported by the original laws that Congress passed to fund ongoing public health needs. Attorney General Platkin notes that these public health dollars continue to support efforts against bird flu, measles, and other emerging threats.

“Instead of looking out for our health, the Trump Administration is putting us in harm’s way. Cutting hundreds of millions of dollars isn’t just illegal; it’s also reckless. These damaging cuts will jeopardize services for people experiencing a mental health crisis or struggling with addiction, deprive patients at community health centers of the care they need, and make us more vulnerable to the spread of deadly infectious diseases,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Stripping our state of $350 million in Congressionally-authorized funding violates the law, plain and simple. We are standing up for our residents and for public health with this lawsuit, and we will keep fighting to get this critical funding back.”

Legal Challenge

• Who: AG Platkin and a coalition of attorneys general representing 23 states and the District of Columbia: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota New Mexico, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

• What: A lawsuit seeking to stop HHS from cutting essential federal grants “for cause” and to secure a temporary restraining order that prevents the cuts from taking effect.

• When: The legal action was filed this week in response to HHS notices on March 24 and 25 abruptly terminating funding.

• Where: Filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, with ramifications for states nationwide, including New Jersey.

• Why: The states maintain that these funds, appropriated by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic, are vital for sustained public health work, including mental health services, substance abuse treatment, vaccination campaigns, and emergency preparedness. They argue that ending the pandemic does not constitute a valid “for cause” reason to rescind funding.

• How: The lawsuit emphasizes that HHS’s actions are arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act and deviate from the legislative intent of the underlying appropriations.

If these cuts move forward, local and state agencies would face budget shortfalls in programs focusing on vaccinations, mental health, and addiction treatment—efforts critical to many Morristown and Morris County residents. For now, Attorney General Platkin and the wider coalition await court rulings on both the validity of the grant terminations and the proposed restraining order.