OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Attorneys general in 19 states, including Washington, are challenging cuts to the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) agency.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Monday, May 5 claims the Trump administration’s restructuring has destroyed life-saving programs and left states to pick up the bill for mounting health crises.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. restructured the agency in March, eliminating more than 10,000 employees and collapsing 28 agencies under the sprawling HHS umbrella into 15.

An additional 10,000 employees had already been let go by President Donald Trump’s administration. Combined, the cuts stripped 25% of the HHS workforce.

Kennedy has said he is seeking to streamline the nation’s public health agencies and reduce redundancies across them with the layoffs.

The cuts have resulted in laboratories having limited testing for some infectious diseases and early childhood learning programs left unsure of future funds, among others.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown wants a judge to vacate the directive because he says the administration can’t unilaterally eliminate programs and funding that have been created by Congress.