Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing a motion to enforce and a motion for preliminary injunction in New York v. Trump, the ongoing lawsuit challenging actions by President Trump, the Office of Management and Budget, and federal agencies attempting to pause nearly $3 trillion in federal assistance funding allocated to the states that support critical programs and services that benefit the American people.
The coalition today seeks more permanent relief, in the form of a preliminary injunction, to halt the Trump administration’s actions to impose a funding freeze, emphasizing the widespread and irreparable harm to states, which rely on billions of dollars of critical federal assistance for public services to ensure access to education, clean air and water, and health care, and to support essential infrastructure projects. As the judge stated when granting a temporary restraining order against the funding freeze, neither the Constitution nor federal spending statutes allow the president authority to take such action.
Citing evidence of ongoing disruptions impacting disbursements to states, and federal funds that remain blocked under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law despite the court’s temporary restraining order, the coalition also seeks to enforce the order to require the Trump administration to disperse these funds. The motion further highlights the harm states face if funds under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are not allocated as required by statute.
“I continue to hear from Coloradans concerned about these illegal unilateral spending cuts that are harming people in our communities, from domestic violence survivors and people who are making their communities more energy efficient to those dependent on lifesaving healthcare. It is critical that the executive branch follow the law. We are confident that the district court will order the federal government to do just that,” said Weiser.
As detailed in the preliminary injunction motion, without access to federal financial assistance, many states could face immediate cash shortfalls, making it difficult to administer basic programs like funding for health care and food for children and to address their most pressing needs. For example, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has experienced disruption in funding for critical public health programs such as reducing lead in drinking water, hospital emergency preparedness, cancer prevention and control, immunizations, and HIV/AIDS care.
Due to ongoing disruptions impacting disbursements to states despite the court’s order, efforts that bolster clean energy investments, transportation, and infrastructure include funds for the Colorado Energy Office for the Solar for All program, rebates for energy upgrades for low- and moderate-income homes, weatherization, electric grid security and resilience, and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program.
Weiser joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in filing the motions.
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