In a significant legal development concerning the future of public health infrastructure, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a preliminary injunction halting efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The move, initiated by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., drew nationwide attention. Attorney General Anne Lopez led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in challenging the directive, arguing that it would severely weaken the agency responsible for administering a broad range of health and social service programs, according to an official statement.
The situation began unfolding on March 27, when Secretary Kennedy announced a sweeping reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which included consolidating 28 agencies into 15 and terminating 10,000 employees—some of whom reportedly learned of their dismissal only after being locked out of government systems. Critics argued the restructuring posed immediate risks to public health and safety. The changes prompted swift legal action from a coalition of states, who claimed the overhaul disrupted essential services, including the suspension of maternal health data collection, the interruption of federal support for Head Start centers, and a near shutdown of the CDC’s disease monitoring functions. The restructuring effort met legal resistance when Judge Melissa R. Dubose issued a preliminary injunction, halting the implementation of the directive.
Reacting to the court order, Governor Josh Green, M.D. emphasized the critical nature of HHS, stating, "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is a cornerstone of our national health infrastructure, delivering vital services that protect our communities, from ensuring access to affordable healthcare to safeguarding public health during times of crisis," and further criticised the dismantling effort as counter to health progress. Attorney General Lopez doubled down on the commitment to maintaining the status quo, asserting, "My department is committed to uphold the rule of law, and this decision underscores that Secretary Kennedy's actions were plainly unlawful," she told the Governor's office.
With Judge DuBose's injunction in place, the termination of employees across four critical HHS offices, including the CDC, the Center for Tobacco Products, the Office of Head Start, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation was halted; and thus, a block was put on further implementation of what has been widely characterized as a haphazard restructuring plan. The coalition of attorneys general representing a swath of the U.S., from Arizona to New York and including Illinois, Maine, Michigan, and others, remains intent on ensuring that crucial services provided by HHS continue uninterrupted and that the workforce central to this provision is protected.
With Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes and Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day leading Hawaiʻi’s involvement in the lawsuit, HHS is, for now, positioned to continue its role in overseeing the nation’s health services amid ongoing administrative controversy and judicial intervention.
