Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Mar. 13 that a federal judge granted his motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the federal government from cutting more than $600 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to several states, including Illinois.
The decision is significant because it ensures continued funding for essential public health programs and jobs in Illinois and other affected states while legal challenges proceed. The case centers on the Office of Management and Budget’s directive to halt CDC funding based on policy disagreements with certain states.
Raoul, who led attorneys general from California, Colorado, and Minnesota in the lawsuit against the Trump administration, said, “Thanks to the order we secured, hundreds of nurses, disease detectives and other essential public health workers will keep their jobs as we fight the Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to terminate more than $600 million in health-related funding. This preliminary injunction means Illinois will continue to receive more than $100 million in CDC grant funding that protects Illinois children from lead poisoning, as well as testing for and treatments of HIV. This funding also allows Illinois and other states to track disease outbreaks, maintain and improve data systems, and collect basic public health data the CDC relies on.”
He further said, “The Trump administration tried to cut the funding to punish Illinois and the other three Democrat-run states for standing up to the president’s unrelated immigration policies. However, we will not be bullied into compliance. When the Trump administration tried to hold Illinoisans’ health hostage to the president’s unlawful demands, we fought back — and this order keeps this critical funding flowing while we continue the fight. I stand committed to defending against the Trump administration’s continued unlawful directives intended to force us to implement immigration and other unrelated policies.”
According to a Feb. 9 notification by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Congress was informed about plans to end CDC grant funding in four states without specific reasons given. The complaint filed by Raoul alleges that these actions violate both constitutional principles and administrative law.
The office of Attorney General Raoul has advocated for vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants, and seniors according to its official website. It handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website, aims to protect consumers while promoting safer communities according to its official website, extends advocacy efforts across Illinois according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its official website, and offers services such as complaint filing related to consumer fraud or civil rights issues according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Raoul said he remains committed “to defending against the Trump administration’s continued unlawful directives intended to force us to implement immigration and other unrelated policies.”