Democratic Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration Over CDC Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes

Two Democratic state attorneys general have launched a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging recent changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule that public health experts warn could reduce immunization rates nationwide. The legal action targets U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over revisions to long-standing vaccine recommendations.

The CDC recently issued an updated immunization schedule that removes universal recommendations for several key vaccines, including COVID-19, rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. Instead, the agency now advises parents to consult healthcare providers under a “shared clinical decision-making” model. Medical organizations argue that eliminating universal guidance could create confusion, weaken public confidence, and ultimately lower childhood vaccination coverage.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Arizona’s attorney general announced that 14 states, along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, will file the complaint in federal court in Northern California. According to Bonta, states face unique public health and financial risks if vaccination rates decline. He stated that California may be forced to allocate additional resources to manage outbreaks, treat preventable diseases, and combat vaccine misinformation.

The lawsuit also challenges Secretary Kennedy’s decision to replace members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert panel responsible for guiding national vaccine policy. The committee is scheduled to meet in March after its February session was canceled.

HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard dismissed the lawsuit as a “publicity stunt,” defending the revised vaccine schedule as a common-sense policy shift.

This multistate legal action mirrors a separate case filed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other healthcare groups, currently pending before a federal judge in Massachusetts. Participating states reportedly include Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, signaling growing political and legal opposition to the administration’s vaccine policy changes.