Attorney General Mayes has taken further legal action alongside a coalition of 22 other attorneys general, filing a second motion for enforcement against the Trump administration. The move is part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging the administration's freeze on federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding is crucial for emergency preparedness and recovery programs, addressing issues such as wildfires, floods, and cybersecurity threats.
"The Trump administration is blatantly ignoring court orders and continuing to withhold critical FEMA funds that states rely on for wildfire prevention, flood mitigation, and emergency response," said Attorney General Mayes. "This is illegal, dangerous, and puts lives at risk. Along with my fellow attorneys general, we are taking action to force the administration to comply with the law and release these vital funds immediately."
The lawsuit began when Attorney General Mayes and her colleagues sued the administration on January 28. A temporary restraining order (TRO) was granted by the court on January 31 to block the freeze until further notice. On February 7, motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction were filed to halt the freeze while preserving necessary federal funding. The following day, February 8, saw a court order mandating compliance with the TRO.
Despite this order, Attorney General Mayes reports that essential funding continues to be withheld by the administration. This includes hundreds of millions in FEMA grants critical for state programs focused on wildfire prevention response, cybersecurity, flood mitigation, and emergency management.
The second motion for enforcement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. It seeks a court order requiring fund release unless evidence is provided showing that funds have been unfrozen.
Joining Attorney General Mayes in this legal effort are attorneys general from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon Vermont Washington Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.