Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on March 13 that a federal court judge granted his motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the federal government from ending health-related funding to states and voiding previous public health grant terminations.
The decision protects more than $42 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants already awarded to Minnesota, with additional threatened cuts now halted. The funding supports efforts such as tracking disease outbreaks, providing rural public health services, and preparing for emergencies.
Ellison said, “I am pleased to have stopped the Trump administration from slashing funding the CDC provides to Minnesota to support our health and well-being. This funding is used to track disease outbreaks, provide public health services in rural areas, prepare for emergencies, and so much more.” He continued, “It remains deeply alarming that Trump and his lackies are still so hell-bent on harming Minnesotans. We deserve a president who looks out for all Americans, and it’s a profound shame that our current president is instead trying to punish Americans who may not have supported him.”
Last month, Ellison joined attorneys general from Illinois, California, and Colorado in suing the Trump administration over an Office of Management and Budget directive that sought to cut more than $600 million in CDC grants based on policy disagreements with those states. The largest grant targeted was the Public Health Infrastructure Block Grant (PHIG), which funds critical infrastructure needs across all 50 states. In Minnesota alone, PHIG supports 57 Department of Health staff members working on projects ranging from rural outreach to emergency preparedness training. It also partially funds about 200 Community Health Board positions statewide.
The coalition’s complaint alleges that the OMB directive violates both the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by being arbitrary and exceeding statutory authority.
The case will continue as legal proceedings move forward.
