• A federal judge halted a Trump administration plan to cut $600 million in health grants.
• The temporary block affects California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota.
• The cuts were seen as retaliatory against states opposing federal immigration policies.
• The ruling allows the continuation of vital health programs, including HIV prevention.
• States may seek to extend the block while the lawsuit is ongoing.

On February 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the Trump administration from cutting $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states: California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. The judge found that these states are likely to succeed in their lawsuit, which claims the funding cuts were politically motivated, connected to their opposition to federal immigration enforcement directives, according to latimes, npr, and reuters.

The judge emphasized that the states had demonstrated they would suffer irreparable harm if the cuts were enacted, as the funding is essential for numerous health programs, including those addressing HIV prevention and disease monitoring. These programs are critical for public health, particularly in urban areas, according to npr and reuters.

The federal government had indicated that the grants were to be terminated because they no longer aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "priorities," a justification that has been contested by the affected states. Their officials argue that this move was a form of retaliation against the states for their support of sanctuary policies and in opposition to Trump's immigration policies, as noted by latimes and reuters.

The next steps involve the states, led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, potentially seeking to extend the judge's order while the legal proceedings continue. If not stayed, the cuts could have resulted in significant job losses among public health workers and disruption in vital health services, according to npr and reuters.