General Democratic Prosecutors of 23 States and the city of Washington, USAthey sued on Tuesday at Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and his secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for the reduction of US $ 12,000 million in public health funds. They claim that this measure of the Trump administration was illegal and harmful.
United States: Washington and 23 states sued the government for public health cuts
In the lawsuit, prosecutors requested a temporary restriction order and a precautionary measure to immediately stop the fund cuts by the administration. Argue that these will cause the Interruption of key public health services and the loss of jobs of thousands of health workers.
Last week, Centers for the control and prevention of US diseases (CDC) cut approximately US $ 11,400 million in funds assigned to state and community health departments during the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
CDC expect to recover this money in approximately 30 days, according to HHS. The coalition of general prosecutors argues that, although it is true that these funds eliminated were assigned during the Covid-19 pandemic, They never allocated the response to this virus.
Rather, they dedicated themselves to the long -term public health system, to preparation against pandemics and certain behavioral health services, including addiction treatment and suicide prevention. “Cutting these funds will now reverse our progress in the opioid crisis, our mental health systems will plunge in chaos and leave hospitals with difficulties to serve patients,” said magistrate Letitia James to CNN.
“These funds were assigned by Congress and were assigned to health departments with work plans, budgets and deadlines approved by federal agencies,” said the Dr. Joseph KanterExecutive Director of the Association of state and territorial health officials.
What does the demand on the Trump government say
The new demand alleges that the government is undermining the constitutional power of Congresssince the funds were related to specific designations of the legislative body. They point out that the administration lacks the legal authority to terminate the funds already assigned.
The coalition of general prosecutors could even work to achieve a permanent court order on these cuts to public health, said Daniel Karon, a Cleveland headquarters who does not participate in the lawsuit, but that has been following the cases against the Administration.
Source: Ambito
