Attorney General Dan Rayfield, along with 22 other state attorneys general, filed a motion today calling for further enforcement of a temporary restraining order against a federal funding freeze ordered by President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget. The coalition is requesting a preliminary injunction to make the relief more permanent and prevent the administration from resuming the freeze, which has cut access to essential federal funds for programs such as food relief, healthcare, and public safety.
“Without access to this money, Oregonians and people in all states will be greatly harmed,” said Oregon Attorney General Rayfield. “We’ve seen that we cannot trust this administration to act in the best interest of our citizens, as they continue to weaponize their federal agencies.”
“This funding not only bolsters and modernizes critical infrastructure, but it also creates good paying jobs while simultaneously reducing harmful pollution,”
“The lawsuit filed by New Jersey and other states yielded a swift ruling from the Court that the Trump Administration cannot freeze funding for education, basic healthcare, law enforcement, and basic infrastructure. Given that the Trump Administration continues to withhold critical funding that go towards reducing energy costs for everyday New Jerseyans and supports our roadways and infrastructure, continued court intervention is needed to ensure that the rule of law is followed,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “We will continue to fight these illegal actions until all funds New Jersey is entitled to are restored.”
“As long as this Administration continues to break the law, we will continue our fight to uphold it,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha. “When Judge McConnell granted our TRO last Friday, he ordered the resumption of all federal funding that had been previously severed by the Administration’s new OMB policy. And yet, since then, states and federal funding recipients across the country have reported trouble accessing their congressionally allocated funds. These lingering funding pauses are not coincidental. So let me be as crystal clear as Judge McConnell’s order: we’re not interested in playing these games, especially when it comes to funding programs that Americans rely on to survive and thrive.”
The coalition also seeks to enforce the court’s initial order further, explaining that the federal government has yet to unfreeze critical infrastructure funding, including monies from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Two weeks ago, a judge granted the temporary restraining order against the funding freeze, citing that neither the Constitution nor federal spending statutes grant the president the authority to take such action.
Along with Rayfield, attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin have joined in filing the motions.
“As long as this Administration continues to break the law, we will continue our fight to uphold it,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha. “When Judge McConnell granted our TRO last Friday, he ordered the resumption of all federal funding that had been previously severed by the Administration’s new OMB policy. And yet, since then, states and federal funding recipients across the country have reported trouble accessing their congressionally allocated funds. These lingering funding pauses are not coincidental. So let me be as crystal clear as Judge McConnell’s order: we’re not interested in playing these games, especially when it comes to funding programs that Americans rely on to survive and thrive.”
“Let’s be crystal clear: the power of the purse belongs to Congress, not the President,” said State of California Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s dangerous and unconstitutional actions have created chaos and confusion across this country, and caused significant harm to states across the country and the millions of Americans who rely on federal funding, from children to the elderly. In yet another unlawful move, we have evidence that despite the Temporary Restraining Order we secured, the Trump Administration has continued to block funds needed for our domestic energy security, transportation, and infrastructure provided under the IRA and IIJA. We’re asking the court to enforce its order and ensure that the Trump Administration reinstates access to this critical funding. No one is above the law, and at the California Department of Justice, we will not waver in our commitment to uphold the law and ensure that necessary funding for critical programs and services in states across our country can continue.”
