Dallas County, Texas v. Kennedy et al.

Docket No.
1:25-cv-04242
District Court
District of Columbia

Goal

  • Block enforcement of an agency action
  • Compel agency action
  • Declaration that agency action is unlawful
  • Vacate agency action

Issues

Why it Matters:

Plaintiff alleges that defendants arbitrarily terminated $11 billion of public health funding, including approximately $4 million appropriated to Dallas County, Texas, in violation of Administrative Procedure Act, the separation of powers principle, and the Spending Clause. The funding was appropriated under COVID-19-related laws and is used to support public health efforts such as mitigating the spread of infectious diseases, ensuring access to immunizations, and bolstering emergency preparedness.

Potential Impact:

Termination of the public health funding will limit local governments in providing essential public health services to their residents.

7 Major Filings

Related Litigation

Current Status

Briefing is ongoing

Legal Issues

Separation of Powers, Spending Clause, Ultra Vires, Administrative Procedure Act - Unconstitutional & Contrary to Statute, Administrative Procedure Act - Violation of Agency Regulations Administrative Procedure Act - Arbitrary and Capricious

Topic(s)

Funding Termination/Cuts

Date Filed
December 5, 2025
Case Type
Civil
Court Type
District Court
Court
District of Columbia
Judge
Cooper, Christopher R. Appointed By: Barack Obama
Plaintiff(s)
Dallas County, Texas
Lead Counsel For Plaintiff(s)
Government
Defendant(s)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Department of Health and Human Services; Jim O'Neil; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lead Counsel for Defendant(s)
Government