Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that two preliminary injunctions have been secured against actions by the Trump Administration. These actions aimed to dismantle federal programs and prematurely end essential education funding.
"Stripping federal funding and dismantling congressionally funded agencies has become a troubling and unlawful pattern within the Trump White House," Nessel stated. "Eliminating agencies that support local public and school libraries and halting projects that keep classrooms warm, ventilated, and safe is not just harmful to our communities and students – it's illegal. I'm grateful two separate Courts agreed, and we secured relief to protect students, libraries, and other vital programming across our state. I will continue to stand up and fight for Michiganders."
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction preventing the dismantling of three federal agencies: the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. These agencies provide services supporting public libraries, museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide. Attorney General Nessel joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in April in suing the Trump Administration over these attempted eliminations.
In a separate case, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted another preliminary injunction. This lawsuit challenged the Department of Education’s decision communicated on March 28, 2025. The decision sought to abruptly end the period during which education agencies could use congressionally appropriated funding intended to mitigate pandemic impacts on K-12 students. Despite ongoing construction efforts set to continue through March 2026 under previously approved deadlines, DOE attempted to prohibit fund usage.
The court's order prevents DOE from enforcing its decision to rescind this ability for school districts. The funds were originally appropriated by Congress through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan.