Pediatricians Sue HHS to Block $12 Million in Grant Cuts Alleging Political Retaliation

By Blessing Nweke

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, seeking to block nearly $12 million in federal funding cuts that the doctors’ group says threaten critical child health programs nationwide.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the AAP said the federal government “abruptly terminated” multiple grants earlier this month without warning or justification. The funding supported a wide range of public health initiatives, including programs to prevent sudden unexpected infant death, strengthen pediatric care in rural communities, and assist adolescents dealing with substance use and mental health challenges.

The organization warned the cuts could have immediate and severe consequences. According to the lawsuit, the AAP lacks alternative funding sources to replace the lost grants and would be forced to shut down dozens of programs within weeks. The group said layoffs of employees dedicated to the affected initiatives would soon follow.

The suit alleges the grant terminations were made in retaliation for the AAP’s public positions opposing policies of the Trump administration and HHS leadership. The academy has been outspoken in its support for pediatric vaccinations and has criticized recent HHS stances under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime figure in the anti-vaccine movement. Earlier this year, the AAP issued its own Covid-19 vaccine recommendations that differed significantly from federal guidance.

The group has also publicly supported access to gender-affirming care for youth, criticizing what it describes as government interference in the doctor-patient relationship.

“The Department of Health and Human Services is using federal funding as a political weapon to punish protected speech,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which is representing the AAP.

An HHS spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

AAP CEO Mark Del Monte said the organization values its partnership with the federal government but was left with no choice but to sue to keep lifesaving programs running.