A coalition of Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Trump administration, aiming to block the cancellation of $11 billion in federal health grants originally allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attorneys general and governors from 23 states, along with the District of Columbia, argue in a Rhode Island federal court filing that the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lacks the legal authority to revoke funding that states have already integrated into critical public health programs.

The disputed grants have been used to combat infectious diseases such as measles and bird flu, bolster mental health services, and support addiction treatment initiatives.

“By slashing billions in vital public health funding, the administration is essentially abandoning the American people at a time when these programs are more important than ever,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

HHS has yet to comment on the lawsuit.

The funding rollback is the latest in a series of cuts spearheaded by newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The department announced last week that the grants—initially designated for COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and other pandemic-related responses—would be terminated.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will not continue wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on a crisis that ended years ago,” the agency stated.

The cuts affect funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for pandemic preparedness, overdose prevention, and community health initiatives, as well as from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for addiction treatment and suicide prevention.

“Stripping these resources now will set back our fight against the opioid epidemic, disrupt mental health care systems, and leave hospitals struggling to provide essential services,” warned New York Attorney General Letitia James.