Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that the Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) has successfully shielded over $1.6 billion in federal funding that was at risk due to executive orders from President Trump and other federal measures. During the past three months, Oregon has been involved in 13 multi-state lawsuits and numerous amicus briefs to combat reductions or eliminations of these funds.
"Through every wave of chaos and every legally dubious executive order, our office has stood firm to protect the rights of Oregonians," Rayfield stated. "Our team at the Oregon Department of Justice is working overtime to make this happen. These victories in court have preserved more than a billion dollars in funding for critical services like food assistance, public safety, healthcare, education, and medical research."
ODOJ's federal litigation costs have reached approximately $267,000, with significant increases witnessed in February following a surge in executive orders from President Trump that posed potential detriments to Oregon's populace.
The amount preserved by ODOJ includes funds that were directly jeopardized, as well as those threatened indirectly by federal actions. ODOJ acknowledges that the $1.67 billion may only partly represent the total impact due to the pressing legal context, which compels a focus on significant state impacts rather than a comprehensive record of potential effects.
AG Rayfield emphasized the broad impact across state agencies and within ODOJ divisions. "Within the first few days of the Trump administration, there was a funding freeze memo that jeopardized funding across the entire state,” shared Rayfield. “I walked into work and heard our child support division couldn’t even access the portal they need weekly. For our folks on the frontlines in these divisions, it is extremely stress-inducing and chaotic."
Rayfield noted that some rulings safeguarded Oregon's interests only because of its participation in multi-state lawsuits, highlighting that states not involved were left unprotected. He cited a preliminary injunction that ensured the protection of vital medical research funding in Oregon.
To explore more about ODOJ's budgetary strategies and its role in aiding Oregon residents, Rayfield suggested viewing their recent budget presentation.