New York v. Kennedy (RFK Jr. HHS, D.R.I., 2025)
Case 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.
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The Application
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
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.
Case Analysis
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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