A coalition of 20 state attorneys general, spearheaded by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has initiated legal proceedings against the Trump administration.
The lawsuit, lodged in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, challenges the administration's decision to share Medicaid data with immigration authorities. This legal action is supported by attorneys general from states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
According to The Post Millennial, the lawsuit highlights a significant policy shift that occurred in June 2025, when the federal government altered its stance on the confidentiality of State Medicaid agencies' healthcare records. This change was implemented without public consultation or a transparent decision-making process. The lawsuit contends that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), transferred a substantial amount of protected health data from states such as California, Illinois, and Washington to other federal entities, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This transfer reportedly occurred without the consent of the individuals involved, contravening federal law.
The lawsuit further accuses the Trump administration of dismantling established protections for sensitive health data, thereby violating federal statutes, notably the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The administration justified the data sharing by asserting it was necessary to ensure Medicaid benefits were allocated to those lawfully entitled. However, the attorneys general argue that HHS's actions falsely suggest widespread Medicaid fraud and overlook Congressional provisions extending emergency Medicaid coverage to all U.S. residents, regardless of immigration status.
The legal complaint also warns of a "predictable chilling effect" on Medicaid enrollment, particularly among marginalized communities such as immigrants, transgender individuals, those with mental health conditions, and individuals seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care. This chilling effect, the lawsuit argues, could deter eligible individuals from accessing essential healthcare services.
In a statement, Attorney General Bonta criticized the Trump administration's actions, stating, "The Trump Administration has upended longstanding privacy protections with its decision to illegally share sensitive, personal health data with ICE. In doing so, it has created a culture of fear that will lead to fewer people seeking vital emergency medical care. Im sickened by this latest salvo in the Presidents anti-immigrant campaign. Were headed to court to prevent any further sharing of Medicaid data and to ensure any of the data thats already been shared is not used for immigration enforcement purposes."
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