Another federal court blocks hhs rifs & Restructuring

Federal Court Halts HHS Layoffs and Restructuring Plan

On July 1, 2025, a federal court sided with 19 states and Washington, D.C., to block a reckless plan by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to slash thousands of jobs, dismantle public health programs, and shut down regional offices.

This is a big win—for workers, public health, and the communities we serve.

What Happened

Earlier this year, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced a sweeping plan to “streamline” the department. In reality, it was a politically driven scheme to gut public health. The March 27 announcement outlined plans to:

• Eliminate 10,000 federal jobs

• Shut down or consolidate major divisions at CDC and FDA

• Close half of HHS’s regional offices

• Launch a new agency called the “Administration for a Healthy America”

The changes were rushed. Workers were locked out of their emails and offices. Thousands were placed on administrative leave with terminations scheduled for June 2 or July 2. Programs like PRAMS, tobacco enforcement, and disease tracking were paused or ended.

Secretary Kennedy even admitted 20% of the firings might be “mistakes” requiring rehires.

The States Took Action

A coalition of state attorneys general filed suit in federal court on May 5, arguing the reorganization was:

• Illegal under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)

• Unconstitutional, violating the Separation of Powers and Appropriations Clause

• Arbitrary and capricious, with no legal or procedural foundation

• Immediately harmful to public health programs and partnerships

They asked the court to halt implementation while the case moves forward.

The Court Agreed

The U.S. District Court in Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction, putting the brakes on HHS’s actions. Key findings from the ruling:

• The harm is real and ongoing: States already lost access to critical CDC data and support.

• The court has jurisdiction: This case isn’t just about employment—it’s about the national public health system.

• The actions are final and reviewable: HHS can’t pretend this was a draft plan—it was already in motion.

• The states are likely to win: The judge found the restructuring likely broke the law.

• The public interest is clear: We can’t afford to lose public health protections in a time of global risk.

As the court wrote: “The risk of irreparable harm is not speculative—it is occurring now.” The ruling emphasized that public health systems have already been destabilized and that the impacts are “concrete and ongoing.”

Why This Ruling Took Time

Though many expected a swift decision, the court waited to rule until key developments played out in related litigation, particularly a case brought by AFGE challenging the same restructuring on behalf of federal employees. The judge was watching how the AFGE, AFL-CIO v. Trump case progressed before moving forward, recognizing the overlap in legal issues and the stakes involved for both labor rights and public health.

This ruling reflects a growing consensus in the courts: the administration’s actions were not only reckless, they were likely unlawful.

What This Means for Us

This ruling forces HHS to pause its terminations and shutdowns. It doesn’t end the fight, but it gives us time to organize, mobilize, and protect our jobs and mission. Specifically, the court ruled that HHS is legally barred from:

• finalizing any RIF notices already issued (i.e., no final separations),

• sending out new RIF notices

• placing additional employees on administrative leave

This order applies to all relevant agencies and programs named in the lawsuit, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), HHS regional offices (part of the Office of the Secretary/Intergovernmental and External Affairs), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

We stand united with the states that took legal action. AFGE Local 2883 is proud to represent workers who make public health possible—and we will fight back against any attempt to dismantle the CDC from the inside.

Stay Informed. Stay Involved.

This court ruling is another major victory. Together with the AFGE, AFL-CIO, et al. v. Trump case that is also ongoing, these cases strengthen our position and give us multiple legal paths to stop the dismantling of public health and protect our jobs.

AFGE Local 2883 is proud to be fighting on all fronts—for our colleagues, for science-based public health, and for the communities we serve.

We’ll keep members updated as the case unfolds. For now, this decision is a strong reminder: when we organize and fight together, we hold the line.