Attorney General Rayfield has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general to seek a court order compelling the Trump administration to release frozen Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds. This action follows a preliminary injunction issued on March 6, which blocked the administration from withholding federal grants intended for states.
The withheld funding is crucial for emergency preparedness and recovery programs addressing various threats, including wildfires, floods, and cybersecurity. The coalition has filed a motion to enforce the injunction, urging the court to mandate the immediate release of FEMA funds.
“The Trump administration’s refusal to release this funding is not just dangerous – it’s reckless,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “It will harm people, and we won’t stand by while the federal government plays politics with people’s lives.”
The funding freeze was implemented through several actions, including a January 27 memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which illegally withheld federal funds needed by states and entities such as nonprofit organizations and community health centers. The freeze has impeded access to Medicaid dollars and recently affected public safety by jeopardizing disaster response efforts nationwide.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has been significantly impacted by this policy. OEM administers 29 separate FEMA grants or lines of federal disaster assistance that have been frozen. These grants are vital for disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, recovery planning, and training activities. The delay in reimbursement affects Oregon's recovery efforts following major disasters.
Attorney General Rayfield's coalition sued over the funding freeze on January 28. A temporary restraining order was granted on January 31 to block its implementation until further notice. Subsequent motions were filed on February 7 and February 28 seeking enforcement against the illegal freeze. Despite winning a preliminary injunction on March 6 requiring evidence of unfreezing by March 14, funds remain withheld.
The effort led by attorneys general from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island also includes those from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Mexico North Carolina Vermont Washington Wisconsin District Columbia.