A Catastrophic Attack on Our Health System
The Trump Administration’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Directive, issued by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on March 27, delivered a devastating blow to public health. It fired 10,000 workers, merged 28 divisions into 15, and closed half of the department’s regional offices, including San Francisco’s. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 20 state attorneys general, has launched a lawsuit to halt this reckless destruction, arguing it violates the Constitution and jeopardizes millions who rely on federal health programs.
The Department of Health and Human Services manages $1.8 trillion in services, from early childhood programs to disease surveillance. Yet, this directive stopped critical work overnight. Federal labs approving N95 masks shut down. Measles tracking ceased. These actions undermine the agency’s mission to protect American lives, leaving communities vulnerable.
Illegal Moves, Tangible Harms
The lawsuit contends the directive breaks multiple laws. It violates the Administrative Procedure Act, oversteps presidential power, and ignores Congress’s authority to fund and organize agencies. The Appropriations Clause ensures presidents execute budgets, not dismantle them. By slashing HHS, the administration has disrupted services Congress mandated, forcing states to scramble. For instance, closed regional offices cut support for Head Start, risking childcare and health services for countless families.
The damage is immediate. Over three months, HHS lost 20,000 employees—nearly a quarter of its workforce—through firings and coerced ‘buy-outs.’ The CDC’s infectious disease labs, essential for outbreak response, closed during a measles surge. This mirrors the 2010s, when underfunding gutted local health departments. The directive doesn’t streamline; it endangers lives by dismantling vital protections.
A Dangerous Pattern of Overreach
This directive fits a broader assault on federal agencies. Since January 2025, executive orders revoked bargaining rights for over a million workers and enabled at-will firings for 50,000 policy roles. The Department of Government Efficiency pushed sweeping layoffs, while White House control over independent agencies stifles their autonomy. These tactics recall Reagan’s 1980s cuts but strike deeper, eroding the civil service system established in 1883.
Some defend these cuts, claiming they eliminate waste. Yet, 67% of independents and 90% of Democrats, per recent polls, believe the reductions harm public services. The shuttered Office of Compliance and Enforcement, which fined retailers for illegal tobacco sales to minors, targeted no fraud—just public safety. These actions prioritize ideology over the well-being of vulnerable communities.
Standing Up for Our Future
Filed in Rhode Island’s federal court, the lawsuit demands the directive’s reversal, citing cases like Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, which limited executive power, and INS v. Chadha, which reinforced separation of powers. States like California have long fought federal overreach, from emissions standards in 2019 to immigration policies in 2010. This case upholds that tradition, defending the health infrastructure rooted in Roosevelt’s 1935 Social Security Act.
Some argue states should manage health services independently. However, HHS sets national standards and funds programs no state can sustain alone. Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act—cornerstones of equitable access—depend on a strong HHS. Local health departments, weakened since the 2010s, cannot bridge this gap. States lack the resources to replace federal support.
This fight transcends one agency. It defends the principle that no president can unilaterally dismantle Congress’s work. Bonta’s coalition champions accountability, the rule of law, and the millions who need HHS. We must protect this vital system to ensure health and security for all Americans.