Gov. Evers Releases Statement Regarding New Lawsuit Suing Trump Administration for Recklessly Gutting Over $225 Million in Federal Funding from Health Services in Wisconsin

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced Wisconsin is joining a new lawsuit to stop the Trump Administration from attempting to gut over $225 million in federal funding the state expected to receive to help support mental and behavioral health services, prevent and respond to substance misuse and the opioid epidemic, bolster local public health, and strengthen local emergency medical services. Gov. Evers’ announcement today follows through on the governor’s promise last week to explore legal options against cuts to key investments for Wisconsin, which were previously approved by the U.S. Congress, designed to support public health infrastructure and health services in the wake of the pandemic and to help respond to future public health crises and emergencies.

This comes as President Trump, the Trump Administration, and Republicans in the U.S. Congress continue threats to Medicaid and Social Security and make substantial cuts to federal programs and funding Wisconsin’s kids, families, farmers, veterans, and seniors depend on every day. Last week, President Trump and the Trump Administration announced plans to cut 10,000 additional full-time employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in addition to thousands the Trump Administration has already forced out of work.

“President Trump and Elon Musk are recklessly trying to gut funding Wisconsin is depending on to help make our kids, families, and communities healthier and safer to help pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. These cuts will hurt Wisconsin’s ability to combat fentanyl and the opioid epidemic, help folks in mental health crisis, and respond to future public health emergencies. I won’t stand for it,” said Gov. Evers. “By yanking funding Congress already approved, it’s clear President Trump and Elon Musk want to obliterate our constitutional checks and balances to give themselves sole, unchecked power to make decisions—and Republicans in Congress are doing nothing to stop them. It’s breathtaking. The Trump Administration every day is threatening Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and critical programs Wisconsin’s families, farmers, seniors, and veterans depend on every day. I will continue to fight these attacks with every power available to me, and I urge Republicans in Congress to join me in this fight.”

According to filings accompanying the lawsuit from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the department received terminations for six awards totaling over $225 million. A copy of the information submitted by the DHS to accompany the lawsuit filing is available here. A copy of the filed complaint is available here.

The Trump Administration intends to cut $225 million in federal funding aimed at supporting health services across Wisconsin that the state expected to receive, hurting counties, communities, and Tribal Nations statewide. As outlined in the linked filing above, the Evers Administration expects the Trump Administration’s latest cuts to negatively impact:

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
• 988 crisis county connection services;
• Local substance abuse prevention programs;
• Community health workers;
• Access to fentanyl test strip kits;
• Peer-run respites and recovery centers;
• Local public health departments and efforts to improve information infrastructure;
• Efforts to strengthen local EMS responses to local public health crises;
• Public health laboratories;
• Wisconsin Immunization Registry;
• Regional crisis stabilization facilities; and
• Other key priorities designed to improve health statewide.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.