Latest news with #HHS)Department
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dem AGs take Trump-Kennedy HHS to court over cuts to COVID-era grants
More than 20 Democratic attorneys general are joining forces to take Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to court to halt spending cuts he has authorized within the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department in alignment with President Donald Trump's goal of cutting waste and downsizing the federal government. "I cannot overstate how reckless and illegal these cuts are," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement Tuesday. The cuts, which were announced last week and began Tuesday, include firing some 10,000 federal health employees across its major agencies – roughly 20% of its workforce – as well as slashing billions of dollars in public health grants. Hhs Downsizing Begins Amid Rfk Jr. 'Make America Healthy Again' Push: 'Win-win For Taxpayers' Those public health grants, amounting to $12 billion, were earmarked for states during the COVID-19 pandemic for testing and vaccinations. The HHS justified the cuts because 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." HHS Director of Communications Andrew Nixon said in a media statement last week that "HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump's mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." Read On The Fox News App However, Mayes, alongside 23 other Democratic state attorneys general, argue the cuts will impact the health of their states. "By slashing these grants, the Trump administration has launched an all-out attack on Arizona's public health system—harming the entire state, but hitting rural communities the hardest. These cuts target the very places that rely most on this critical funding," Mayes said. "Eliminating it would devastate our already precarious system and cost jobs across Arizona, from doctors to tribal health workers. I will fight this every step of the way." Rfk Jr Backs Wv Push For Snap Waivers, Work Mandates Under 'Maha' The lawsuit, filed in Rhode Island, claims the "unlawful withholding of funds has already caused substantial confusion and will result in immediate and devastating harm" to the residents of 23 states and the District of Columbia. Attorneys general from Rhode Island, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., are listed as plaintiffs. The department has been preparing to make major cuts in recent weeks across its health agencies, especially pertaining to administrative costs and DEI-related spending. Hospitals Warned They Must Protect Children From Chemical And Surgical Mutilation: Hhs Agency Memo On Tuesday, federal health employees began receiving notices of termination. The Associated Press also reported there were lines wrapped around the HHS building of employees trying to find out whether they still had a job. According to the HHS, the layoffs "will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year" and "streamline" functions of the department while ensuring that essential services like Medicare and Medicaid continue without disruption. "We aren't just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic," the HHS secretary said in a statement. "This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer."Original article source: Dem AGs take Trump-Kennedy HHS to court over cuts to COVID-era grants
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
RFK Jr.'s former running mate rules out 2026 CA governor run, hints at activism: 'Watching closely'
Nicole Shanahan, Silicon Valley philanthropist and Robert F. Kennedy's running mate during his 2024 presidential race, has ruled out a gubernatorial run in California for the 2026 election to replace the termed-out liberal Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Shannahan made the announcement Friday on Steve Hilton's podcast when asked about her priorities in the Golden State. "My priorities are and, you know, Steve, I'm just gonna share with you now; I'm giving you the exclusive. I'm not running for governor in 2026," Shanahan told Hilton, a Fox News contributor. "I believe that my job in 2026 is to get people to break out of their political orthodoxy, to think about what is really in the best interest of California," she said. "I am not a Democrat, I am not a Republican, I am an independent, and I'm here to support the revival of California." She continued, saying "now is the time for people to step up" and that she will be "watching closely" and "supporting" individuals who "continue to be brave enough to stand up against harmful political ideology to do what is right for the people." Shanahan has been involved in several political efforts in California, including being a major donor in the effort to recall Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. As Kennedy faced high-stakes congressional confirmation hearings to lead the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, Shanahan singled out several senators, warning that she would financially support primary challengers if they voted against his confirmation as secretary. "Dear U.S. Senators, Bobby may play nice; I won't," she wrote in a post on X. Several candidates have announced their intentions to run for governor of California in the 2026 election, while others are still considering their options. Katie Porter, the former liberal congresswoman, has launched her bid, focusing on advocating for working families and opposing former President Trump's policies. Eleni Kounalakis, California's lieutenant governor, has officially entered the race, seeking to continue Newsom's policies. Other candidates include Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff who is running on the Republican ticket. Bianco's platform centerson law enforcement issues and border security. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also rumored to be considering a 2026 run, and her decision could have a major impact on the race, particularly among Democratic voters.
