Kansas City wins money back after suing RFK, Jr. over federal vaccine grants

Madeline King, The Kansas City Star on Jun 18, 2025

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A U.S. District Court judge granted an injunction on Tuesday temporarily blocking federal officials from cutting public health funding for Kansas City — a win in the city’s ongoing legal battle against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the agency he leads.

The court order requires that while the lawsuit proceeds through court, HHS provides Kansas City, along with other plaintiffs, the grant funding that it had terminated in March. The affected grants total to over $8 million for the Kansas City Health Department.

According to a press release from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ office, these funds support “the Health Department’s infectious disease testing laboratory and community health worker programs in underserved neighborhoods.” The funding also impacts vaccination efforts.

“We appreciate this ruling that ensures that the Kansas City Health Department can continue essential work—including disease tracking, vaccination efforts, and long-term planning—without immediate disruption,” Kansas City Health Department Director Marvia Jones said in the statement.

The injunction is a result of Kansas City’s actions in April when it joined lead plaintiff Harris County, Texas, to sue RFK Jr., and the agency over funding cuts. Other plaintiffs include governments in Ohio and Tennessee and a labor union.

Plaintiffs also sought the reinstatement of all funding nationwide slashed by the HHS grant cuts. According to plaintiffs, HHS terminated $11 billion in funding across the country. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper denied the reinstatement of dollars planned for projects outside the geographic boundaries of the cities that were part of the suit.

Despite not getting the grants back nationally, Lucas said the restoration of local funds is a step forward.

“Cuts to funding for lifesaving healthcare grants are unconscionable. We will always stand up for our people in Kansas City—and we will keep winning,” Lucas said in the statement. “We are proud of our win today against the Trump administration’s cuts to public health. More wins to come.”