Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has intensified her legal actions against the Trump Administration by joining coalitions in filing two significant motions. The first is a preliminary injunction aimed at halting the dismantling of the Department of Education, while the second is a motion for enforcement concerning disruptions to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants.
Recently, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. This move affects Michigan's receipt of approximately $1.5 billion in federal education funding, which supports special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and various other educational programs.
The coalition opposing this action argues that it would severely impact students benefiting from these programs and jeopardize Pell Grants for Michigan students, potentially increasing college costs for thousands.
“This executive order is just another illegal attempt by Donald Trump to unilaterally strip essential services from millions of students,” said Nessel. She emphasized that eliminating the department would threaten critical services and financial aid necessary for higher education accessibility.
In their lawsuit filed earlier this month, Nessel and 20 other attorneys general contend that Trump's actions are both illegal and unconstitutional.
Separately, Nessel and a coalition of 22 attorneys general have renewed efforts to enforce court orders against what they describe as illegal disruptions to FEMA funding by the Trump administration. Despite previous court orders and a secured preliminary injunction, funds are reportedly being withheld under a manual review process. This has affected Michigan State Police's access to $111.6 million in FEMA grant reimbursements, among others.
“Even with the preliminary injunction that we secured, the Trump administration is still withholding FEMA grants," Nessel stated. She stressed that this action compromises state safety during emergencies and pledged continued legal efforts until these funds are released.
The motions filed seek further court intervention to ensure the release of pending FEMA grants.