Letitia James, Illegal Funding Freeze Enforcement, New York NY, 2023

New York – In a bold stand against the Trump administration’s alleged illegal funding freeze, New York Attorney General Letitia James has led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction.

The motion targets an action by the President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would indefinitely halt the majority of federal funding. This move threatens to paralyze essential programs across the nation, including healthcare, education, law enforcement, and infrastructure.

Despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) granted on January 31st, Attorney General James asserts that the administration has persisted in withholding funds, thereby risking lives and jobs. The coalition is pushing for the court to enforce the TRO and issue a preliminary injunction to preserve funding while their lawsuit against President Trump proceeds.

The directive from OMB would freeze billions of dollars, including those from Congress’ bipartisan Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The administration’s reversal of the freezing policy was deemed insufficient by the court, which noted continued fund retention.

New York has already felt the brunt of this action, with Medicaid funds frozen and Head Start programs facing dire financial straits. Childcare centers are on the brink of closure, community health centers are struggling to maintain operations, and patients receiving gender-affirming care have seen their appointments canceled.

Attorney General James emphasized the urgency of their action, stating, ‘Last week’s illegal freeze of essential federal funding has wreaked havoc and harm. Today, we are taking action to stop the chaos and ensure vital funding remains available while our lawsuit continues.’

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