New York v. Kennedy (RFK Jr. HHS, D.R.I., 2025)
Overview
Overview
The government appealed Judge DuBose's order granting a preliminary injunction which prevents substantial cuts to the workforce of HHS and reorganization of the agency.
Overview
A coalition of states sued the Health and Human Services Department and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over the termination of HHS employees and shuttering of agencies within the department, which they allege has amounted to a dismantling of HHS.
The Issue
Issue
Whether the Executive's termination of HHS employees and closure of HHS agencies violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds constitutional limits on executive authority over federal personnel and agency operations.
The Rules
Rule
Executive agencies may only exercise powers delegated by statute; agency actions are subject to APA requirements for procedural regularity, and federal employees possess statutory and constitutional protections against unlawful removal and agency reductions.
The Application
Analysis
Plaintiffs challenge whether the Secretary of HHS and RFK Jr. possessed statutory authority to unilaterally terminate career employees and eliminate agencies without following APA notice-and-comment procedures or statutory safeguards for federal workforce reductions.
The Conclusion
Conclusion
The case is active and pending in federal district court; the court must determine whether the agency dismantling complied with administrative law and whether plaintiffs have standing and likelihood of success on the merits.
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