A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from clawing back public health funding from Columbus and three other communities.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday. It means the federal government must reinstate funding to Columbus, Nashville, Kansas City, Missouri and Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston.
Columbus joined the lawsuit against the administration in April after it learned Columbus Public Health would be losing $3.1 million. The federal funding cuts resulted in Columbus Public Health laying off 11 infectious disease workers.
Columbus Public Health spokeswoman Kelli Newman said Wednesday it was too early to say how the court's ruling affects those positions.
In a statement, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said the decision allows local health departments to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
“We will continue to urge the Court to make this injunction permanent, and send a message to Washington that cities will not back down as this administration recklessly defies Congress, ignores the rule of law, and endangers the health and safety of children and families in Ohio and across the nation,” Klein said.
The Trump administration eliminated $11.4 billion in March for infectious disease grants.
The cuts also resulted in the elimination of more than $100,000 for Columbus' CelebrateOne initiative to decrease infant mortality and improve maternal health.
