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The First Circuit on Wednesday shut down the Trump administration’s attempt to slash 10,000 jobs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and terminate programs at the CDC, FDA, Head Start, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

In an unsigned opinion, the three-judge panel ruled the administration failed to prove “irreparable harm” or demonstrate a strong chance of winning on appeal. The decision preserves a Rhode Island federal judge’s injunction blocking the cuts.

Judges Question Government’s Claims

Judges Lara Montecalvo, Julie Rikelman, and Seth Aframe said the administration’s legal arguments fell short. They rejected claims that 19 states and the District of Columbia lacked standing, chose the wrong venue, or were barred from suing under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The panel emphasized U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose’s earlier findings, noting Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted HHS never examined employees’ responsibilities before cutting them, saying such a review would “take too long” and risk losing “political momentum.”

$1.8 Billion Savings vs. Public Health Fallout

The administration argued the plan—restructuring HHS into an “Administration for a Healthy America”—would save $1.8 billion annually. But Judge DuBose highlighted the fallout: suspended labs, offline databases, chaos in grant management, and the collapse of technical training and consultation services.

“These are not unsubstantiated fears,” she wrote. The appellate court agreed, saying the government offered little to rebut the affidavits and declarations detailing harm.

States Push Back

Led by New York and Rhode Island, the plaintiff states warned of immediate dangers once employees were placed on leave and public health programs shuttered. The First Circuit said their arguments carried weight, unlike the administration’s vague claims of executive authority harm.

While acknowledging the government may have to continue paying employees who could later be deemed lawfully terminated, the court found that was insufficient to justify lifting the injunction.

What’s Next

The battle over HHS’s workforce and programs now heads deeper into litigation. With billions at stake and essential public health services on the line, the outcome will ripple across states and communities nationwide.

The states are represented by their attorneys general. The government is represented by Cristopher R. Hall, Elizabeth Themins Hedges, and Christian Dibblee of the DOJ’s Civil Division.