Grants to build public health infrastructure and prevent sexually transmitted infections in Colorado will keep flowing for at least two weeks after a federal judge on Thursday prevented the Trump administration from cutting them off.
Colorado and three other states sued Wednesday to prevent the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from halting $600 million in ongoing public health grants to the states, all led by Democratic governors.
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office estimated the state would lose about $22 million in existing funding, as well as about $4 million it expected to receive in the future.
U.S. District Court Judge Manish Shah, in the Northern District of Illinois, found that the states had a good chance of proving the federal government violated the law in the way that it planned to cut the funds, and that losing them would cause “irreparable harm” to the states.
The temporary restraining order preventing the funding cuts took effect Thursday afternoon and lasts 14 days.
The funding comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported the largest grant affected had about $22 million that the state hasn’t yet spent on public health infrastructure. Smaller grants to the state, local health departments and nonprofits involve surveillance and prevention for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the state health department, said the agency is assessing the potential impact of losing the grants and looking for ways to ensure services continue.
“These programs support core public health functions — including disease surveillance, testing capacity, workforce staffing and partnerships that help prevent and control HIV and other sexually transmitted infections across Colorado,” she said in a statement. “They are carried out by dedicated public health professionals and community partners who work every day to protect the health of Coloradans.”
An HHS spokesperson said the grants don’t align with the CDC’s current priorities. All 50 states receive similar grants, but the department only cut those going to Colorado, California, Illinois and Minnesota.
The four states’ attorneys general argued that the decision was “arbitrary and capricious,” and meant to punish President Donald Trump’s perceived enemies. The administration previously attempted to cut child care funding to Colorado, the other three states and New York, citing concerns about fraud. Those rescissions are on hold while the states’ lawsuit plays out.
Colorado isn’t aligned with Trump’s immigration policy, and the president has repeatedly criticized the state for incarcerating Tina Peters, a former county clerk who breached state election systems. Gov. Jared Polis has suggested he is considering clemency for Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence.
Attorney General Phil Weiser described the grant cuts as a “lawless” attempt to punish states the president views unfavorably.
“The court protecting our public health funds for now is an important step to defend the law and to make clear that states cannot be illegally targeted,” he said in a statement.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.
Hence then, the article about federal judge orders trump administration to keep paying colorado public health grants was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Federal judge orders Trump administration to keep paying Colorado public health grants )
Also on site :