AFSCME Sues to Block Cuts to Essential Public Health Funding

Legal Action Initiated by AFSCME Against Federal Grant Termination

In a pivotal move, AFSCME, collaborating with Democracy Forward, has lodged a federal lawsuit aimed at halting the Trump-Vance administration's directive. This directive seeks to terminate significant public health grants managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The lawsuit targets the administration's decision to cut off funding to public health programs in four Democratic-led states: Illinois, California, Colorado, and Minnesota. This funding is crucial for the functioning of public health departments and supports the employment of numerous AFSCME members.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders emphasized the critical nature of public health employees' work, stating, “AFSCME members working in public health do the lifesaving work that prevents infectious diseases from spreading and stops outbreaks before they start.” He further criticized the administration's actions as risking community safety for political purposes.

The cessation of these funds is poised to have immediate repercussions on both public health workers and the communities they serve. State and local health departments depend on these federal grants for disease monitoring, emergency preparedness, and ongoing public health challenges.

The lawsuit claims that the administration's actions are part of a broader strategy to use federal funding as a political tool against states and communities with opposing political leadership. The directive in question called for agencies to pinpoint funding for a list of states and initiate steps to either cut or reclaim those funds.

Roberta Lynch, executive director of AFSCME Council 31, remarked, “These lawfully appropriated federal funds support the jobs of countless AFSCME members whose work protects public health at the state and local levels. Their jobs and our communities should not suffer from illegal political retaliation.”

Filed under the case name AFSCME v. Vought, the lawsuit seeks a court ruling to declare the directive and grant terminations unlawful, aiming to prevent the administration from executing the funding cuts.

For those interested in opposing similar funding cuts, AFSCME encourages action and provides resources to get organized. Learn more by clicking here.