From The Hill: A federal judge late Sunday ordered the Trump administration to restore nearly $12 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), after the organization’s funding was abruptly cut last month.
Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction that will restore the grants and block the cuts from taking effect while the case proceeds.
Howell concluded that the Department of Health and Human Services had a likely “retaliatory motive” for the terminations, due to the AAP’s outspoken opposition to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“This is not a case about whether AAP or HHS is right or even has the better position on vaccinations and gender-affirming care for children, or any other public health policy,” Howell wrote. “This is a case about whether the federal government has exercised power in a manner designed to chill public health policy debate by retaliating against a leading and generally trusted pediatrician member professional organization focused on improving the health of children.”
ABOUT THIS JUDGE: Beryl Howell, 69, is a senior United States district judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was appointed by Barack Obama in 2010.
The report explains that the federal grants which had been cut represent almost two-thirds of AAP’s federal funding.
AAP alleged in their lawsuit that the funding cuts were made in retaliation for the group speaking out against the Trump administration’s positions and actions, including changes to vaccine policy and gender-affirming care for minors.
JUST IN: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $12 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, saying the terminations appear to be retaliation for the group’s view points re: vaccine safety/efficacy. https://t.co/jqtMiD8Dz9 pic.twitter.com/9C6EGEhRaP
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 12, 2026
HHS attorney Mike Stuart had released the following statement on December 27:
AAP’s decision to hire radical, anti-Trump, anti-faith, and anti-mainstream counsel for its lawsuit against HHS sends a clear message about its true agenda. Democracy Forward’s client list reads like a who’s-who of radical special interests. Why were AAP’s grants canceled? Simple: the funding didn’t align with HHS’s mission or priorities. This is the same reason many other grants outside AAP were terminated.
HHS is not obligated to fulfill AAP’s employment or spending desires with American taxpayer dollars. The arrogance behind this lawsuit is staggering — AAP seems to believe it’s their money to spend as they please. Wrong! It’s our money, and it’s HHS’s duty to protect taxpayers from wasteful spending. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. The days of unchecked funding for radical causes are over.
AAP’s decision to hire radical, anti-Trump, anti-faith, and anti-mainstream counsel for its lawsuit against HHS sends a clear message about its true agenda. Democracy Forward’s client list reads like a who’s-who of radical special interests. Why were AAP’s grants canceled?… https://t.co/vv9dBw6d1A
— HHS General Counsel Mike Stuart (@HHSGCMikeStuart) December 27, 2025
READ MORE from The Hill.
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
