A federal judge in Illinois has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from rescinding roughly $600 million in public health grants awarded to four Democratic-led states, California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota; in a case that highlights ongoing conflict over federal funding priorities.

The states filed a lawsuit challenging the funding cuts to key health programs, including disease surveillance and LGBTQ+ health initiatives, after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the grants no longer aligned with revised CDC priorities on health equity.

U.S. District Judge Manish Shah issued a temporary restraining order, pausing the cuts for 14 days to prevent immediate disruption. In his order, Judge Shah wrote that the states “have shown that they would suffer irreparable harm from the agency action.”

The lawsuit, led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, argues the funding cuts violate the Constitution by imposing retroactive conditions on money already awarded by Congress. State officials warn that losing these funds could force layoffs of hundreds of public health workers and impair efforts to prevent and track infectious diseases like HIV and other STIs.

Officials in the four states contend the cuts are retaliatory, citing their opposition to the administration’s immigration policies. The states plan to seek an extension of the judge’s order as the lawsuit progresses.

Courts have previously blocked similar funding cuts by the Trump administration, including efforts to cut social service dollars to Democratic-led states.