Letitia James Announces New Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Jan 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM EST Updated Jan 28, 2025 at 4:21 PM EST


New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a new "imminent" lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday regarding the freezing of federal grant programs. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Tuesday for comment.

Why It Matters

James has a history of challenging President Donald Trump, most notably by leading the lawsuit against his company for allegedly misleading insurers and banks by overvaluing assets ahead of his 2024 presidential election campaign. On Monday, James posted to X, formerly Twitter, regarding a report by The Washington Post that the Trump Administration paused all federal grants. "This administration's pause on federal funding is reckless and dangerous," James wrote. "Programs in communities across the entire nation depend on this funding to support our families, and this action is only going to hurt them."

Trump's White House budget office ordered a temporary freeze on all federal grants and loans in a memo on Monday. The decision could potentially impact trillions in government spending and halt public programs. The freeze excludes programs like Social Security, Medicare, welfare and direct individual assistance and is set to take effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.

What To Know

In a news conference on Tuesday, James announced the impending lawsuit against the Trump administration along with other Democratic attorneys general. "Not only does this Administration's new policy put people at risk, but it is plainly unconstitutional," James said.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/letitia-james-announces-new-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-2022447

[mnhtnbb]

1. The Democratic Attorneys General

Of the states joining the lawsuit are named in this article:
Democratic states plan to sue over Trump's federal grant funding freeze - CBS News https://search.app/4apSPCRorxaGHkx87

Pleased to see North Carolina among them!

[AllyCat]

2. Yes! Josh Kaul from WI on the list!

Has he finally found his voice?

[TommieMommy]

3. Thank you Letitia James 👍 they are horrible people

[dutch777]

4. All of this is meritorious plus it ties up massive DOJ resources that then can't target retribution & other stupidity

Unfortunately also is a get out of jail free card for drug dealers, human traffickers and other miscreants the DOJ should be going after.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. MaddowBlog-Democratic AGs sue Trump admin over federal grants freeze amid widespread confusion

The question was when, not whether, Trump’s funding freeze would face a legal challenge. A group of Democratic state attorneys general answered soon after.
https://bsky.app/profile/tmfab.bsky.social/post/3lgtnugwvs22l

Link to tweet

The question was when, not whether, Trump’s new policy would face a legal challenge. The public did not have to wait too long for an answer.

In a morning news conference, Schumer told reporters that New York Attorney General Letitia James was “going to court” to contest the White House’s “illegal” move. The senator knew of what he spoke: The state’s Democratic attorney general has, in fact, already filed suit taking aim at the president’s legally dubious spending freeze.

She’s partnering in this case with Democratic attorneys general from 21 other states and the District of Columbia: Rob Bonta of California, Kwame Raoul of Illinois, Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts, Matt Platkin of New Jersey, Peter Neronha of Rhode Island, Kris Mayes of Arizona, Phil Weiser of Colorado, William Tong of Connecticut, Kathy Jennings of Delaware, Brian Schwalb of Washington, D.C., Anne Lopez of Hawaii, Aaron Frey of Maine, Anthony G. Brown of Maryland, Dana Nessel of Michigan, General Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Aaron Ford of Nevada, Jeff Jackson of North Carolina, Raúl Torrez of New Mexico, Dan Rayfield of Oregon, Charity Clark of Vermont, Nicholas W. Brown of Washington and Josh Kaul of Wisconsin.

This lawsuit is separate from a related case filed by a coalition of nonprofits and public health advocates, who collectively asked a federal judge for an emergency order to block the White House’s policy. That judge issued an administrative stay on Tuesday afternoon that pushed the start date of the federal funding freeze to Monday at 5 p.m. ET while litigation plays out......

And while that might’ve sounded reassuring, NBC News also reported on some of the preliminary consequences of Team Trump’s gambit.

Nonprofit organizations reached by NBC News said some of their funding appeared to have already been cut off, and they were scrambling to figure out what the implications could be for their programs, like those providing health care, housing and early childhood education.

There are related reports about state-based Medicaid portals’ shutting down as a result of the White House’s move, though administration officials are apparently working to address this.

As for the likely fate of the new cases, NBC News published a separate report noting that the issue could make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court quickly.

Although the court has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three Trump appointees, legal experts say this could be one of several uphill legal battles the administration has picked. There are also Supreme Court precedents that have acknowledged restrictions on presidential power when it comes to how money is spent. In 1974, around the time the Impoundment Control Act was enacted, the court ruled against the Nixon administration in an attempt to withhold funding aimed at reducing water pollution.

Watch this space.

[Ladythatvotesblue]

6. Thank you

For being a good AG and a Patriot.