U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose ruled the Trump administration’s recent mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were likely against the law. The federal judge’s ruling came on Tuesday in a response to a lawsuit file in May by attorney generals from 19 states and the District of Columbia, NBC News reported.  

The judge ruled the states had shown “irreparable harm,” from the layoffs, and probably would succeed in their claims that “HHS’s action was both arbitrary and capricious as well as contrary to law.” DuBose said the executive branch does not have the authority to implement drastic changes to agencies created by Congress.

The ruling blocks the Trump administration from finalizing layoffs announced in March and issuing any other firings. It also requires HHS to issue a status report by July 11.

As CMM previously reported, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) eliminated over 10,000 positions in March and consolidated 28 agencies to 15. Since then, RFK has repeatedly rescinded layoffs, including at least 722 employes at the CDC. Meanwhile, 43% of U.S. adults strongly or somewhat disapprove of how RFK is handling his job.

Calling all facility managers and professional cleaners: your participation is requested in a Making Safer Choices Focus Group. The goal of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how cleaning professionals, facility managers, and others in the cleaning product value chain select and utilize cleaning products, particularly those labeled as an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice. Insights will inform future training and educational materials aimed at promoting safer and healthier workplaces.

Discussions will be conducted by researchers at the City University of New York School of Medicine, in partnership with Penn State University and ISSA, in one of five languages— English, Spanish, Nepali, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole —between July 7 and July 29. All participants and their responses will be kept confidential and private when the results are presented.

Each participant in a 90-minute focus group will receive a $40 e-gift card.

To sign up and to learn more information on the Making Safer Choices Focus Groups, click here. Your participation is crucial for shaping a safer future. Make your voice heard and act today!

Below is a complete list of Making Safer Choices Focus Group discussion dates, times, and languages:

English

• Monday, July 7 (5 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 8 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, July 9 (9.30 a.m. – 11 a.m.)
• Wednesday, July 9 (6 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.)
• Monday, July 14 (5 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 15 (12 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, July 16 (4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 22 (5 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 24 (5 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 29 (1 p.m. – 2.30 p.m.)

Spanish

• Monday, July 7 (3 p.m.-4.30 p.m.)
• Monday, July 14 (3 p.m.-4.30 p.m.)
• Friday, July 18 (9 a.m.-11 a.m.)
• Monday, July 21 (3 p.m.-4.30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, July 23 (12 p.m.-1.30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, July 23 (2 p.m.-3.30 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 24 (9 a.m.-11 p.m.)
•  Friday, July 25 (9 a.m.-11 p.m.)

Nepali

• Thursday July 10 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 12 (12 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 12 (2 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 15 (4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 17 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 22 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, July 23 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 24 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)

Portuguese

• Monday, July 7 (9 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.)
• Wednesday, July 16 (11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.)
• Friday, July 18 (11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.)
• Friday, July 25  (11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.)
• Monday, July 28 (4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.)

Haitian Creole

• Monday, July 7 (12 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.)
• Friday, July 11 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)
• Friday, July 11 (6 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.)
• Monday, July 14 (12 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.)
• Friday, July 18 (3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.)