On May 5, 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 19 other state attorneys general—including those from California, Colorado, and Michigan—filed a major lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of illegally dismantling the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What happened
The administration, as part of a “government efficiency” effort announced in late March 2025, reduced the number of HHS agencies from 28 to 15 and laid off approximately 20,000 employees. These cuts hit critical health programs: 3,500 staff were let go from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2,400 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 1,200 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lost half its workforce, halting the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the team that ran the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The cuts also dismantled teams overseeing federal poverty guidelines, energy assistance programs, and maternal mortality monitoring.
In response, the administration proposed a new agency, the Administration for a Healthy America, to absorb some of the responsibilities of the terminated agencies. However, the attorneys general argued that these changes are “dangerous, cruel, and illegal,” claiming they violate multiple federal laws and undermine the nation’s public health infrastructure.
At a press conference, James warned the cuts put “countless lives at risk,” especially during events like the ongoing measles outbreak, where federal lab testing capacity has been nearly wiped out. She also announced plans to request a preliminary injunction to immediately block further HHS terminations.
The backstory
Kennedy, a longtime critic of federal health agencies and vaccine mandates, entered the role with a sweeping agenda to “drain the swamp” and reduce what he called “bureaucratic bloat.” This was announced on March 27. He claimed many agencies within HHS had become “politicized and inefficient,” and he championed mass layoffs and consolidations as part of a broader federal workforce reduction led by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Kennedy played a key role in collapsing 28 HHS agencies into just 15, arguing that a leaner department would improve transparency and focus more on “natural health solutions” and local control.
What was said
According to a statement by Attorney General James, “This administration is not streamlining the federal government; they are sabotaging it and all of us. When you fire the scientists who research infectious diseases, silence the doctors who care for pregnant patients, and shut down the programs that help firefighters and miners breathe or children thrive, you are not making America healthy – you are putting countless lives at risk.”
What’s next
If the courts grant a preliminary injunction, as James plans to request, the HHS may be forced to pause or even reverse some of its cuts, restoring critical programs and potentially re-hiring laid-off staff.
Related: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide (2025 Update)
FAQs
What is the HHS and what does it do?
The HHS is a cabinet-level agency in the U.S. federal government responsible for protecting the health of all Americans and providing human services, especially to those least able to help themselves. It oversees public health, medical research, social services, and health insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
Which agencies fall under HHS?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
What programs does HHS manage?
HHS oversees programs that cover:
- Disease prevention and control (e.g., flu, COVID-19)
- Medical research and innovation
- Food and drug safety
- Mental health and substance use treatment
- Child welfare, foster care, and adoption services
- Health insurance programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP
- Health services for underserved and rural communities
How does HHS impact everyday Americans?
HHS protects public health by ensuring the safety of food and drugs, funding medical research, supporting community health clinics, responding to health emergencies, and managing health insurance access for millions through Medicare and Medicaid.
Kirsten Peremore
