Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined forces with 22 other attorneys general to file a second motion for enforcement against the Trump administration's freeze on federal funding. The lawsuit, which is ongoing, addresses what the coalition describes as an illegal halt to funds critical for emergency preparedness and recovery programs.
"Donald Trump is not a king," stated Attorney General Ellison. "He cannot ignore laws passed by Congress and he cannot ignore court orders. Today, I’m taking action to stop Trump from withholding essential funds that states rely on to prepare for and recover from natural disasters like floods and wildfires."
The initial lawsuit was filed on January 28, leading to a temporary restraining order (TRO) granted by the court on January 31. This order blocked the implementation of the funding freeze until further notice. On February 7, motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction were filed by the coalition to maintain access to federal funds crucial for families, communities, and state programs.
Despite these legal actions, Attorney General Ellison reports that the administration continues to withhold necessary funding. This includes hundreds of millions in FEMA grants intended for wildfire prevention response, cybersecurity efforts, flood mitigation, and emergency management.
The latest motion seeks a court mandate requiring fund release unless evidence is provided showing compliance with previous orders. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Leading this lawsuit are attorneys general from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Additional participants include attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont Washington Wisconsin along with the District of Columbia.
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