Attorney General James Leads Legal Assault on Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze

New York Attorney General Letitia James has thrown her weight behind a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in a landmark legal challenge against the Trump administration. The group argues that the president’s authority to halt billions of dollars in USAID funding is illegal and violates Congress’s constitutional power over federal spending.

In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, James asserts that President Trump lacks the unilateral power to refuse spending funds already allocated by Congress. She emphasizes the critical role USAID plays in supporting global public health, research, and agricultural programs, highlighting the devastating impact the suspension has had on states like New York.

USAID has been instrumental in administering essential aid since its inception over 60 years ago, promoting initiatives spanning public health, disaster recovery, economic development, education, and democracy across more than 100 countries. The coalition argues that the Trump administration’s decision to suspend thousands of USAID grants in February 2025 effectively ended nearly all of its programs, threatening lives in vulnerable regions worldwide.

James and her colleagues emphasize that USAID funding is crucial for research initiatives across the United States, including support for farmers, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. Universities in New York alone have seen over $550 million in research grants and contracts halted due to the administration’s cuts.

The coalition also argues that the Constitution explicitly grants Congress, not the president, the authority over federal spending. They assert that allowing the executive branch to arbitrarily withhold funding would create chaos for states relying on federal funds for essential services such as Medicaid, infrastructure, education, and law enforcement.

Attorney General James and her fellow attorneys general are urging the court to uphold a preliminary injunction order halting the administration’s withholding of USAID funds. The coalition includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, and others.

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