Kansas City is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), claiming the agency unlawfully slashed critical public health funding that the city relies on to vaccinate children, prevent the spread of disease, and serve vulnerable communities.
In a lawsuit filed this week in federal court, city officials allege that HHS abruptly terminated a key public health grant without warning or explanation, cutting off millions in anticipated federal support.
The lawsuit accuses the department of acting “arbitrarily and capriciously” and of violating the federal Administrative Procedure Act by failing to follow its own rules in rescinding the funding. 
“This is not just a budget line,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in a public statement.
“This grant supported real, life-saving work from vaccination programs in underserved neighborhoods to disease prevention campaigns that protect all Kansas Citians.”
The Grant at the Center of the Dispute
The funding in question was part of a cooperative agreement administered through HHS’s Office of Minority Health.
Kansas City had used the grant to expand health equity programs, bolster vaccination access for families without insurance, and support data infrastructure for disease tracking and response.
In court documents, the city argues that HHS had already approved Kansas City’s spending plans for the year and had not raised concerns about the program’s performance.
The abrupt cancellation, city officials claim, threatens to reverse years of progress and leave critical programs without funding.
A Broader Pattern?
The lawsuit comes amid broader concerns about federal cuts to local public health programs under the current administration.
Since early 2024, HHS, under the direction of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made sweeping changes to how health equity and community health grants are administered.
Critics say many of these changes have come with little transparency or guidance.
“The federal government has an obligation to support local public health,” said Dr. Marvia Jones, Director of the Kansas City Health Department.
“This is not just about Kansas City, this is about the precedent being set for every local health department in the country.”
Kansas City is asking the court to reinstate the grant funding and prevent HHS from cutting similar funds without public notice or explanation.
What’s at Stake
City officials warn that without restored funding, they may have to scale back or suspend immunization efforts and outreach programs aimed at curbing health disparities in low-income communities.
The lawsuit notes that the funding also supported programs aimed at improving maternal health outcomes and chronic disease prevention.
Health advocates say the case is a test of whether federal agencies can unilaterally rescind funds that local governments are already relying on and whether politics is interfering with public health at a time when trust in institutions is already fragile.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit.
What Happens Next
The case has been assigned to a federal judge in Missouri’s Western District.
A hearing date has not yet been scheduled. If Kansas City succeeds in its challenge, it could set a legal precedent requiring HHS to provide greater transparency and justification before pulling critical health funding from local governments.
