Democratic-led states sue Trump admin for cutting grant funding in a 'slash-and-burn campaign'

A group of nearly two dozen Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday night for cutting funding for various grants that do not align with the new administration's priorities. 

The Trump administration has made drastic changes to the federal government since taking power in January, including restructuring the government and rooting out wasteful government spending, which includes canceling grants.

The group of 21-states, which includes California, Illinois and New York, accused federal agencies of conducting a national “slash-and-burn campaign” to allegedly illegally revoke previously awarded funds through a subclause in federal law.

The states argued that the new administration cannot simply revoke the awards because it does not like the grant, when the funds were already appropriated by Congress. 

“With the stroke of a pen, federal agencies have deprived States of critical funding they rely on to combat violent crime and protect public safety, equip law enforcement, educate students, safeguard public health, protect clean drinking water, conduct life-saving medical and scientific research ... ensure access to unemployment benefits for workers who lose their jobs, and much more,” the plaintiffs wrote.

 “Federal agencies have done all of this without any advance notice, without any explanation to the State recipients, and in direct contravention of the will of Congress,” they added. “The State recipients’ sole offense has been that they used the grant funding precisely how they had promised in the grant applications—and as they were instructed by the agencies at the time of the grant award.”

Other states in the lawsuit include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania, among others.

White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields slammed the lawsuit in a statement to The Hill, claiming the state attorneys general should be focused on addressing real issues facing their constituents.

“Leftist AGs and governors who would rather spend their days drafting toothless letters in an attempt to ‘stick it to Trump’ continue to miss the mark while failing to address real issues impacting their states,” Fields said. “Every one of these elected officials should focus on serving their constituents, not their party bosses, and work with the President and this administration to enact the agenda the American people overwhelmingly supported.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.