In a recent move that has elicited both relief and controversy, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with a coalition of 19 attorneys general, has obtained a preliminary injunction that puts a sudden halt to the dramatic revamping of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The injunction aims to prevent what they deem unlawful mass layoffs and agency reorganizations as part of the Trump Administration's "Department of Government Efficiency" initiative. The sweeping reforms proposed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. would have seen HHS's workforce considerably reduced and its agencies drastically consolidated.
The preliminary injunction came as a response to a radical restructure announced on March 27, where Kennedy detailed a plan to reduce the number of HHS agencies from 28 to 15 and slash its employee headcount by about 20,000—moving from an approximate 85,000 to a mere 65,000. According to a statement obtained by the Michigan Department of Attorney General, thousands of termination notices went out on April 1, but by the grace of the recent court decision, these abrupt job cuts and office closures have been suspended, for now.
Michigan residents might realize the gravity of this had the court not intervened. Critical public health infrastructure, such as regional HHS offices and CDC infectious disease laboratories, faced severe downsizing or closure. The Chicago office, which serves Michigan and significant others in locations like Boston and San Francisco, was earmarked for termination.
The suspension of the HHS overhaul was confirmed yesterday, following a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general on May 5, which challenged the Trump Administration's restructuring plans. The motion filed four days later for a preliminary injunction has, for the moment, preserved the structure and function of HHS. In Nessel's own words, "Had this action gone into effect, it certainly would have resulted in immeasurable harm and countless lives needlessly lost," expressing a sentiment that has, by a thin thread, been avoided, as noted by the Attorney General's Office.
Michigan residents and other states under the umbrella of the 19 attorneys general coalition can breathe a bit easier as this preliminary injunction keeps the protection and accessibility to critical health services intact. For concerned citizens who seek to stay informed, the Department of Attorney General advises visiting the Federal Actions Tracker webpage. The status of federal actions that impact Michigan is updated there regularly. Nessel’s collective effort, joined by attorneys general from a slew of other states, including California, New York, and Oregon.
