Mercer Times

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin praised a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, which has issued a temporary restraining order to stop the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from ending $11 billion in public health grants. This move affects funding distributed to several states, including over $350 million in federal aid to New Jersey.

"We are thrilled with today’s ruling, which puts a halt to the Trump Administration’s cruel attempt to claw back hundreds of millions of dollars in public health funding from New Jersey,” said Attorney General Platkin. "With the court’s decision today, New Jersey can continue to provide critical services for those with mental health concerns, people recovering from substance abuse issues, and patients at community health centers. We will continue our office’s work to prevent these devastating cuts from ever taking effect."

The ruling comes after Attorney General Platkin, on April 1, joined a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, seeking a temporary restraining order.

New Jersey was part of a broader coalition effort that included the Attorneys General of states such as Arizona, California, and New York, along with others from across the country, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. This coalition is challenging the funding cuts that they argue are illegal and harmful.