Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham is responding to a temporary restraining order on the federal government’s recent cancellation of grant funds.
The order restores $11 billion in public health funding to state and local agencies nationwide, including more than $250 million to Minnesota.
Cunningham calls it a bright spot in what have been some very dark days in public health. But she says the future is not yet certain.
"The evidence put forward by Minnesota, 22 other states and the District of Columbia, clearly demonstrated the harm this reckless grant termination poses for Minnesotans and our public health infrastructure," explains Cunningham.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy said Thursday that she plans to grant the court order sought by 23 states and the District of Columbia.
“They make a case, a strong case, for the fact that they will succeed on the merits, so I’m going to grant the temporary restraining order,” said McElroy, who plans to issue a written ruling later.
A temporary restraining order does not guarantee immediate access to federal funds, and it's still unclear what this means for staff that have received layoff notices.
"We will once again have to take some time to figure out what this fully means for the critical services we provide, our community partners, and most importantly, the staff that have received layoff notices," she continues. "A temporary restraining order does not guarantee immediate access to federal funds, and there will be additional hearings, so we must continue to monitor and assess the situation."
The states’ lawsuit, filed Tuesday, sought to immediately stop the $11 billion in cuts. The money was allocated by Congress during the pandemic and mostly used for COVID-related initiatives, as well as for mental health and substance use efforts. The lawsuit said losing the money would devastate U.S. public health infrastructure, putting states “at greater risk for future pandemics and the spread of otherwise preventable disease and cutting off vital public health services.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has defended the decision, saying that the money was being wasted since the pandemic is over.
State and local public health departments already have laid off people, including nearly 200 employees at the Minnesota Department of Health. North Carolina says it stands to lose about $230 million, and California officials put their potential losses at $1 billion.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is also part of the lawsuit, said half a billion dollars in public health grants that support long-term care for the elderly and immunizations for children were at stake in his state.
“As a result of taking the Administration to court, these dollars will now start flowing again,” he wrote on X.
The temporary block on chopping health funding is the latest legal setback for the Trump administration, which is facing some 150 lawsuits on issues ranging from immigration to deep financial and job cuts at federal agencies to transgender rights. Federal judges have issued dozens of orders slowing — at least for now — the president’s ambitious conservative agenda.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.