On Friday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with attorneys general from 22 other states, filed a second motion for enforcement in their lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The legal action aims to address what they describe as illegal disruptions to federal funding by the administration. Despite multiple court orders, these disruptions have continued, blocking hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to various states. This includes approximately $30 million meant for Michigan.
Attorney General Nessel emphasized the seriousness of the situation: "What we are witnessing is a clear violation of the multiple court orders that ensure Americans receive the federal funding they rely on, including FEMA grants that provide critical disaster relief and recovery support." She stressed that temporary restraining orders are legally binding and must be upheld by all parties involved.
The coalition initially sued over the funding freeze on January 28. By January 31, a temporary restraining order (TRO) was granted to block its implementation. Following this, motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction were filed on February 7 to stop what they deemed an illegal freeze and preserve necessary federal funds. The court responded favorably on February 8 by granting their first motion for enforcement.
Despite these efforts, Nessel and her colleagues report ongoing issues with fund accessibility due to continued withholding by the administration. They argue that this affects crucial state programs related to wildfire prevention response, cybersecurity, flood mitigation, and emergency management.
The latest motion seeks a court order compelling fund release unless evidence is provided showing compliance with previous orders. This legal move was made in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
States joining Michigan in this lawsuit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.