Federal judge orders HHS to restore $12 million in funding to American Academy of Pediatrics

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction restoring nearly $12 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics and blocking cuts while the lawsuit proceeds; the judge said the Department of Health and Human Services likely acted with a retaliatory motive.

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction directing the Department of Health and Human Services to restore nearly $12 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics and to block the agency’s cuts while the case moves forward. Judge Beryl Howell wrote that the record suggested HHS likely acted with a retaliatory motive tied to the AAP’s public opposition to the health secretary. The AAP said the grants supported work on preventing sudden unexpected infant death, early detection of developmental disabilities and birth defects, and bolstering pediatric care in rural communities. HHS said the grants no longer aligned with department priorities and defended the decision as protecting taxpayers. Key facts: - Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction restoring nearly $12 million in grants to the AAP and blocking the cuts while the lawsuit proceeds. - The judge concluded HHS likely had a retaliatory motive linked to the AAP’s public opposition to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - The AAP said the canceled grants funded programs on infant death prevention, early developmental screening, birth defect work, and rural pediatric care. - The grants account for about two-thirds of the AAP’s federal funding and, the organization said, the cuts would have led to roughly 10% staff layoffs. - The AAP’s complaint alleges a First Amendment violation intended to chill its speech on vaccines and other public-health issues. - HHS responded that the grants did not align with its priorities and defended the decision as protecting taxpayer funds; the agency criticized the AAP’s choice of legal counsel, while the legal group representing the AAP characterized the ruling as a defense of doctors’ speech and public health. Summary: The preliminary injunction restores the funding for now and prevents the planned terminations from taking effect while the case continues. The legal challenge will proceed in federal court and the injunction remains in place during those proceedings.