Washington state is among 24 states taking legal action against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in an attempt to block the abrupt termination of $11 billion in public health grant funding.
If the funding cut proceeds, Washington could lose more than $159 million, according to a statement from Attorney General Nick Brown.
“We can’t make America healthy by spreading preventable diseases,” Brown said. “Aside from the illegality of these actions, the administration is also choosing to neglect the biggest public health challenges, including substance abuse and mental health crises, facing our communities.”
The impact of the cuts is already being felt in Washington. The state Department of Health has halted programs such as the “Care-A-Van” mobile health clinics after federal funding was revoked. Over 100 vaccination events across the state have been suspended or canceled, though officials are exploring alternative funding sources, a health department spokesperson confirmed.
Behavioral health providers are also facing program cuts, Brown noted, though the full extent of disruptions to drug treatment and mental health services remains uncertain.
Other states joining the lawsuit include California, Oregon, Colorado, Rhode Island, and Minnesota.
Meanwhile, layoffs within HHS have begun nationwide, resulting in the closure of Seattle’s Region 10 office. The department’s restructuring is part of an effort by Kennedy to shrink, overhaul, and rebrand the agency as the “Administration for a Healthy America,” which he claims will be more accountable to taxpayers and patients.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene of Washington, who warned that shutting down the regional office would have serious consequences for local communities.
“This closure effectively removes any on-the-ground support the department provides to families and organizations in our region,” DelBene said in a statement. “This doesn’t make America healthier or more efficient. This is an irresponsible decision that will harm public health in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.”
