sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, seeking to block nearly $12 million in cuts to the group.
Earlier this month, the federal government 鈥渁bruptly terminated鈥� grants to the group, the lawsuit says.
The funding supported numerous public health programs, including efforts to prevent sudden unexpected infant death, strengthen pediatric care in rural communities and support teens facing substance use and mental health challenges.
鈥淎AP does not have other sources of grant funding to replace the federal awards, and without the necessary funds it must immediately terminate its work on its dozens of programs that save children鈥檚 lives every day,鈥� says the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 鈥淲ithin a few weeks, AAP will have to begin laying off employees dedicated to this critically important work.鈥�
The suit alleges HHS made the cuts in retaliation for the doctors鈥� group speaking out against the Trump administration鈥檚 positions and actions.
The doctors鈥� group has been vocal about its support for pediatric vaccines and has publicly opposed HHS positions. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 鈥� who helped lead the anti-vaccine movement for years 鈥� to broadly remake federal policies on vaccines. Earlier this year, the pediatrics group recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines, which substantially diverged from the government’s recommendations.
The group also supports access to and has publicly criticized HHS positions on the topic, saying it opposes what it calls the government鈥檚 infringements on the doctor-patient relationship.
鈥淭he Department of Health and Human Services is using federal funding as a political weapon to punish protected speech, trying to silence one of the nation鈥檚 most trusted voices for children鈥檚 well-being by cutting off critical public-health funding in retaliation for speaking the truth,鈥� Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, said in a statement. Perryman鈥檚 organization is representing the doctors鈥� group in the case.
A spokesman for HHS could not immediately be reached for comment.
Mark Del Monte, CEO and executive vice president of the 67,000-member doctors鈥� group, said the organization depends on its relationship with the federal government.
鈥淲e need this partnership to advance policies that prioritize children鈥檚 health. These vital child health programs fund services like hearing screenings for newborns and safe sleep campaigns to prevent sudden unexpected infant death,鈥� he said in a statement. 鈥淲e are forced to take legal action today so that these programs can continue to make communities safer and healthier.鈥濃��
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌�-
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute鈥檚 Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
