KY Gov. Beshear joins 22 other states, sues federal government over health cuts
Kentucky is one of 23 states suing the federal government over its attempts to pull back $11 billion in COVID-related funds, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined 22 other state officials in the suit, filed in response to an announcement last week that President Donald Trump’s administration was pulling funds related to COVID-19 initiatives.
All but two states that filed suit were represented by their respective state attorneys general. Kentucky and fellow Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, of Pennsylvania, were the exceptions.
In a statement to the Herald-Leader, Beshear’s office said the President’s job is to carry out the laws of the country.
“These funds were appropriated by a law passed by Congress. The President cannot say he just isn’t going to do it,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “At a time when we are seeing measles outbreaks – and at a time we are worried about bird flu – this is an investment in our health care system that our Kentucky families cannot afford to lose.”
The lawsuit, filed in Rhode Island District Court, comes one week after Beshear threatened to file suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if they tried to halt federal funding for state and local health departments for COVID-related infectious disease programs.
Robert Kennedy Jr., the department’s secretary, is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The Department of Health and Human Services said it was pulling back the grants because the COVID-19 pandemic is over. The World Health Organization and the United States declared an end to the public health emergency of COVID-19 in May 2023.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago,” according to a termination notice federal health officials released earlier this week.
The Kentucky Cabinet of Health and Family Services stands to lose $148.8 million, according to Crystal Staley, spokesperson for the Beshear’s office.
Most of the funds go to local health departments across Kentucky and community mental health centers, as well as other local community partners, Staley said.
Tuesday’s 45-paged lawsuit says the abrupt termination of the contract for services “immediately triggered chaos for state and local health jurisdictions.”
The termination affects services such as infectious disease tracking, immunization, mental health, and substance use services.
If the funding is not restored, the lawsuit reads, ongoing public health programs and initiatives will have to be “dissolved or disbanded.”
“The result of these massive, unexpected funding terminations is serious harm to public health, leaving (the states) at greater risk for future pandemics and the spread of otherwise preventable disease and cutting off vital public health services,” the lawsuit reads.
All states listed as plaintiffs argue that the termination of these funds is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act because it exceeds statutory authority and was done without proper notice or the opportunity for a hearing.
The lawsuit aims to vacate the terminations, prevent their enforcement and declare them a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.
Also Tuesday, Health and Human Services employees wrapped around the building to determine if they still have a job, according to the Associated Press, which reported more than 10,000 workers are expected to be laid off.
A hearing has not been scheduled for the lawsuit.
This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM.
