A number of Democratic states have signaled imminent authorized motion to dam a Trump administration order directing federal companies to pause the disbursement of loans and grants whereas the federal government critiques whether or not its spending aligns with President Trump’s agenda.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced the approaching authorized motion, led by New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James (D), at a press convention Tuesday morning the place he decried Trump’s order as “lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel.”
“They’re going to court right away on this horror,” Schumer mentioned. “This plain and simple, this is Project 2025. Project 2025 by another name.”
James, who has taken Trump himself to courtroom for enterprise fraud and received a multimillion-dollar judgment towards him, wrote on social media that her workplace would take “imminent legal action” towards Trump’s “unconstitutional pause” on federal funding. The Hill has requested further particulars from her workplace.
Late Monday, the Workplace of Administration and Funds issued a memo directing federal companies to briefly pause “all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.”
“This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities,” mentioned Matthew Vaeth, OMB’s performing director.
The New York Occasions reported that California, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts — all states with Democratic legal professional generals — are additionally anticipated to hitch the go well with difficult the order.
California Lawyer Normal Rob Bonta (D) wrote on the social platform X early Tuesday that the state was “reviewing” the directive and is ready to “protect” Californians from Trump’s “reckless and dangerous actions.”
New Jersey Lawyer Normal Matt Platkin (D) additionally mentioned Tuesday that the order would “greatly harm New Jerseyans and raise costs for working families,” indicating the state was reviewing the order.
And Massachusetts Lawyer Normal Andrea Pleasure Campbell signaled “prompt action” to cease the order from going into impact, describing it as a “reckless abuse of power.”
Michigan Lawyer Normal Dana Nessel (D) mentioned in an announcement that her workplace intends to file litigation Tuesday difficult the order.
“We hear and share your direct and dire concerns,” Nessel mentioned. “My team is working at full speed today to discern what these orders mean and the extent of their immediate impacts, and request an immediate legal remedy to restore funding provided by Congress, require this administration to comply with the law, and to stop this absurd and unprecedented attack on these programs.”
The Hill has reached out to every state signaling potential fits.
The pause goes into impact at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, in response to the memo, which was reviewed by The Hill. OMB might grant exceptions for sure awards on a case-by-case foundation, the memo states.
In the meantime, a bunch of nonprofits already filed a lawsuit over the grant freeze, together with teams who obtain such funding.
Up to date 1:04 p.m.
