Letitia James Announces Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Health Care Cuts, Citing Threats to Essential Programs

Edited by: TJVNews.com

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Saturday that she will lead a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Trump administration, citing deep concerns over proposed funding cuts to several critical health and social welfare programs, according to a report that appeared on Sunday in The New York Post.

Speaking at a National Action Network rally in Harlem, James delivered a fiery address, charging the White House with actions that, in her words, “threaten our way of life.” She declared that legal action against HHS was imminent, without offering specific details about the lawsuit’s legal framework. However, the New York Post reported that she made clear that her motivation stemmed from the administration’s anticipated slashing of federal aid to programs such as Head Start, which serves low-income preschool children, Meals on Wheels, which provides food assistance to seniors, and the World Trade Center Health Program, a lifeline for 9/11 first responders suffering from long-term health conditions.

“These programs are the backbone of support for our most vulnerable populations,” James said. “From young children preparing for their futures, to elderly Americans relying on a warm meal, to the heroes of 9/11 who sacrificed everything—these cuts are unconscionable, and we are taking action.”

The announcement comes at a politically sensitive time for James, who is currently fending off allegations of mortgage fraud brought forth by the Trump administration. The U.S. Federal Housing Agency recently referred the matter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging James falsified property and loan documentation to secure preferential terms on real estate transactions in New York and Virginia, as per The New York Post report. James has not publicly commented on the referral.

Despite those legal clouds, James was undeterred at Saturday’s rally, positioning herself as a champion of marginalized communities. “We’ve got to stand up,” she urged the crowd, emphasizing that the effort to push back against the Trump administration’s agenda was a collective one. “That’s why Democratic attorneys general will be joining me in filing this lawsuit in the coming days,” she added, according to The New York Post report.

James also took a moment to criticize HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for what she described as misguided public health priorities. She lambasted the secretary’s recent decision to focus on novel treatment methods for a growing measles outbreak, arguing that the administration should instead be emphasizing proven strategies such as vaccination.

In a pointed aside, James mocked Kennedy over a controversial claim he made during a 2012 legal deposition in which he asserted that a parasite had once consumed a portion of his brain. “This is the guy with a worm in his head,” James quipped, as was reported by The New York Post, drawing a mixed response from attendees.

The rally also provided a platform for James to reaffirm her political alliances, particularly with New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Offering her endorsement for Adams’ longshot mayoral bid, James turned to her colleague and declared, “You elected me to continue fighting on, and I will fight on—but what I need by my side is my sister.”

Neither the Trump White House nor the Department of Health and Human Services offered immediate responses to James’ announcement, The New York Post said.

The planned litigation is expected to challenge both the legality and ethical implications of the proposed funding cuts, and it could become a major political flashpoint in the ongoing clash between state and federal leadership over the role of government in providing health and social services. For now, James is rallying allies and preparing for what promises to be a high-stakes legal and political showdown.