Rhode Island is challenging Trump administration attempts to strip billions of dollars in critical federal funding for states.
“It’s no secret that this President has gone to great lengths to intercept federal funding to the states, but what may be lesser known is how the Trump Administration is attempting to justify their unlawful actions,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Nearly every lawsuit this coalition of Democratic attorneys general has filed against the Administration is related to its unlawful and flagrant attempts to rob Americans of basic programs and services upon which they rely. Most often, this comes in the form of illegal federal funding cuts, which the Administration attempts to justify via a so-called ‘agency priorities clause.’ Here, we are proactively asking the Courts to put a stop to the nonsense. The President cannot withhold Congressionally-allocated federal funds from the states, and this clause is no loophole.”
The coalition is seeking a judgment that states the clause does not authorize the administration to terminate funding based on agency priorities that were identified after grants was awarded.
(Photo by BRYAN DOZIER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: BRYAN DOZIER / AFP / Getty Images