On January 28, 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop a policy that froze trillions of dollars in funding that every state in the country relies on to provide essential services to millions of Americans. Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) blocked the release of most federal funding that had been allocated by Congress to the states to provide health and childcare services, support to public schools, provide disaster relief, and protect the public through drug enforcement and other critical public safety programs. Within hours of the OMB’s unprecedented and unlawful funding freeze, states immediately began feeling the impact, jeopardizing healthcare, disaster recovery, and more.

The attorneys general challenged the freeze on multiple grounds. Only Congress has the authority to determine how and where to spend federal dollars. The President is obligated both by statute and by the Constitution to carry out the laws that Congress passes, including the budget.

On January 31, 2025, federal courts agreed with the attorneys general, and granted a temporary restraining order, followed by a preliminary injunction on March 6, 2025. The administration has appealed the ruling.

Immediately blocking the majority of federal funds to states is unconstitutional and dangerous. Millions of Americans rely on federally funded programs every day to get the health care they need, support their families, and stay safe in their communities. Already, this policy has unleashed chaos and uncertainty, with law enforcement halting drug enforcement efforts, Medicaid portals shutting down, and other critical services being thrown into disarray. Today, I am leading a coalition of attorneys general to uphold the law and ensure that essential services in states across our country can continue. Attorney General Tish James