Arizona AG sues federal government over cuts to Meals on Wheels, Head Start, other programs

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined a lawsuit against the federal government, this time over potential cuts to services in Arizona, including Meals on Wheels and Head Start.

This comes after the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and Justice issued new rules that change the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA).

The new guidance, which went into effect on July 10, makes it so that states would not be allowed to use federal funds for certain services for people without first checking their immigration status.

“This is yet another outrageous attempt by this administration to workaround the law and disrupt critical services Arizonans depend on every day,” Mayes said in a press release Monday.   

The lawsuit was filed in conjunction with 20 other attorneys general from around the nation.

It claims these rules to be unconstitutional due to the federal government acting unlawfully by issuing these changes, not following procedures set in place by the Administrative Procedure Act and violating the Constitution’s Spending Clause.

It calls for an immediate stay on the rules to allow for federal funding to resume.

What services could see cuts?

Services impacted by the changes to the PRWORA include Head Start, Meals on Wheels, victim services, adult education, mental health care and community health centers, according to the release.

That means the more than 15,000 children and 13,000 families who use Head Start in Arizona, the more than 35,000 Arizonans who get health care at community health centers and all Arizonans who benefit from the 2.5 million meals from Meals on Wheels would be impacted by cuts to the services, Mayes’ office said.

“What do they think will happen when Head Start, Meals on Wheels and Victim Services shutter? Arizonans will have to foot the bill for emergency childcare, scramble to figure out how to feed their family and go without the support they deserve and are owed by law,” Mayes said in the release. 

Arizona has now joined 24 multistate lawsuits against the federal government since President Donald Trump took office in January.

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