Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

Washington Attorney General's Federal Litigation Tracker

An unprecedented level of harmful, unconstitutional actions are coming out of the White House with severe consequences for state government, our economy, and our residents. With the constitutional rights of our residents at stake, along with federal investments in our state totaling billions of dollars that are now at risk, the Attorney General’s Office has a central role in defending Washington state in this era.

The list below tracks federal lawsuits Attorney General Nick Brown is leading or has joined to safeguard the rights of people in our state and secure federal funding that the administration has unlawfully blocked. The cases are listed in reverse chronological order.

As of Nov. 26, 2025, Washington has filed 46 cases against the current federal administration to protect Washingtonians. Attorney General Nick Brown is leading or co-leading 17 of those lawsuits. The total amount of funding at issue in the cases is more than $15 billion.

Cases

46. State of New York, et al. v. Rollins, et al. (SNAP benefits for lawful permanent residents)

On Nov. 26, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 21 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the federal government from unlawfully cutting off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for thousands of lawful permanent residents. Brown and the coalition are seeking to block new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that wrongly treats several groups of legal immigrants as ineligible for food assistance, including permanent residents who were granted asylum or admitted as refugees. 

45. State of Washington, et al. v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, et al. (Continuum of Care grant program funding)

On Nov. 25, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 18 other attorneys general and two governors in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness with abrupt changes to the Continuum of Care grant program that will limit access to long-term housing and other services. About $120 million in these grants comes to Washington annually, with most of it going to the five counties with the greatest need for housing services – King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, and Clark counties. The remaining $25 million is distributed by the state to Washington’s other 34 counties, which are largely rural.

44. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al. v. U.S. Department of Education, et al. (illegal restrictions on Public Service Loan Forgiveness program)

On Nov. 3, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 21 other attorneys general in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for unlawfully restricting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which allows government and nonprofit employees to apply to have their federal student loans forgiven after ten years of service. The Department of Education projects the rule will have a significant impact. Nationwide, the department estimates it will receive over $1.5 billion in additional payments over the next ten years from borrowers who would no longer qualify for PSLF. Between October 2021 and January 2025, more than 23,000 Washington borrowers had $1.62 million in federal student loans approved for discharge under the PSLF program.

43. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al. v. U.S. Department of Agriculture, et al. (Illegal suspension of SNAP benefits)

On Oct. 28, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 22 other attorneys general and three governors in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps more than 40 million Americans buy food. In Washington, the department's actions jeopardize food benefits for around 900,000 people, including about 300,000 children. 

42. State of Arizona, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al. (Illegal cancellation of the Solar for All program)

On Oct. 16, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 22 other plaintiffs in suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for illegally ending a $7 billion program that lowers energy costs and pollution by bringing solar energy to more than 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country. EPA’s illegal move jeopardizes $156 million for qualifying solar projects in Washington. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges that EPA’s cancellation of the program was unlawful and unconstitutional. The coalition also filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims listed below to enforce the defendants’ contractual obligations.

41. Maryland Clean Energy Center, et al. v. United States of America (Illegal cancellation of the Solar for All program)

On Oct. 15, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 23 other grant recipients in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to recover damages for EPA’s unlawful breach of the grant agreements that were executed under the Solar for All program.

40. State of New York, et al. v. U.S. Department of Justice, et al. (Funding for services for crime survivors)

On Oct. 1, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 19 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to block new restrictions on federal funding that supports survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes. The DOJ's new restrictions jeopardize potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars that were previously authorized for legal assistance services in Washington. On Nov. 24, 2025, the plaintiffs and the defendants filed a stipulation voluntarily dismissing the case without prejudice. 

39. State of Illinois, et al. v. Noem, et al. (Homeland Security Grant Program funding)

On Sept. 29, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 10 other states and the District of Columbia in suing to stop the Trump administration from unlawfully reallocating federal homeland security funding away from states based on their compliance with the administration’s political agenda. On Sept. 27, without any notice or explanation, and four days before the end of the federal fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency significantly cut funding to certain states that are unwilling to divert law enforcement resources away from core public safety services to assist in enforcing federal immigration law while reallocating those funds to other states. Washington state’s expected allocation abruptly saw $2 million taken away, and a reduction in the time to spend the funds from three years to one year likely makes it harder to spend much of the remaining funds.

38.  State of Washington, et al. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, et al. (funding for sexual health education programs)

On Sept. 26, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 15 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration for threatening to pull funding for longstanding teen reproductive and sexual health education programs from states unless they remove language affirming young people's gender identity. Washington state receives more than $2.6 million annually through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grant and uses the funding to educate teenagers on pregnancy and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

37. State of New Jersey, et al. v. U.S. Department of Justice, et al. (immigration enforcement and funding to support victims of crimes)

On Aug. 18, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 19 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration for attempting to condition more than $1 billion in congressionally authorized funding for victims of crimes by coercing states to perform federal immigration enforcement functions. In Washington, the administration’s actions jeopardize more than $34 million slated for programs including emergency shelters, child advocacy groups, organizations for victims of domestic violence, and direct assistance to victims of crimes.

36. State of New York, et al. v. U.S. Department of Energy, et al. (energy grid resilience program indirect costs)

On Aug. 15, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 18 other states and the District of Columbia in suing to block the U.S. Department of Energy from slashing support for state energy grid resilience and energy efficiency, as well as energy affordability. On May 8, 2025, the Department of Energy announced a new policy to cap reimbursement of indirect and employee benefit costs at 10% of a project’s total budget, regardless of previously negotiated rates. In Washington, the new federal cap would force the state to scale back or delay efforts such as wildfire mitigation planning with utilities and energy efficiency programs.

35. State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Commerce, et al. (NOAA climate resilience funding)

On Aug. 8, 2025, AG Brown filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for illegally withholding more than $9 million in congressionally authorized funds to help Washington communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change build resilience. One of the projects targeted is the state’s Tribal Stewards Program, which would have established a network of Washington colleges, tribes, and employers to educate and employ 2,130 post-secondary students in fields related to climate resilience. The other program targeted by the cuts is an initiative to reduce environmental and health disparities by supporting local efforts to address coastal hazards.

34.  State of California, et al. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, et al. (Planned Parenthood defunding)

On July 29, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 21 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration over a provision in recent congressional budget legislation that unlawfully targets Planned Parenthood. The coalition argues that the budget provision is unconstitutionally ambiguous and violates Congress’ Spending Clause power. The cuts would affect 30 Planned Parenthood health care clinics across Washington state where nearly half of the patients use Medicaid to access needed health care services including contraception and cancer screening. The federal government’s action threatens to strip $11.8 million from programs supporting Washington state patients.

33. State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al. (Unlawful cancellation of funds to provide emergency shelter for migrants)

On July 25, 2025, AG Brown sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for unlawfully cancelling more than $4 million in congressionally approved funds intended to help the state provide shelter and support to migrants as they await further action on their asylum or other immigration claims, as well as work authorization. The funds were slated to help Washington meet the basic needs of newly arrived migrants. Between 2022 and 2024, more than 45,000 noncitizen migrants settled in Washington communities, many of whom needed initial support upon their arrival.

32.  State of California, et al. v. U.S. Department of Agriculture, et al. (Data privacy for food assistance recipients)

On July 28, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 20 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the agency’s demand that states turn over personal and sensitive information about millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients. SNAP data is private and legally can only be used to administer the program, not to violate beneficiaries’ privacy by using it surveil Americans. Washington state receives roughly $129.5 million a year to administer the program, and any delay in that funding could be catastrophic for the state and the residents who rely on food assistance benefits.

31. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and State of Washington v. Fidelity Information Services LLC (Data privacy for food assistance applicants and recipients)

On July 24, 2025, AG Brown filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Fidelity Information Services to block the company from providing the Department of Homeland Security with the private, personal data of more than one million Washington residents who receive or applied for food assistance benefits. Fidelity Information Services serves as the contractor for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to deliver benefit payments to recipients.

30. State of New York, et al. v U.S. Department of Justice, et al. (Restrictions on public benefits)

On July 21, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 19 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration to stop its unlawful attempt to restrict access to critical health, education, and social service programs based on immigration status. In Washington, the new guidance threatens the operation of such vital safety net programs as community health clinics, Head Start, family planning programs, WorkSource centers offering job search assistance, and nonprofit agencies providing support to families with housing, energy assistance, nutrition, and more. On Aug. 15, the coalition filed an amended complaint, in which Delaware joined as a plaintiff.

29. State of California, et al. v. Kennedy, et al. (Access to health insurance and coverage under the Affordable Care Act)

On July 17, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 20 other states in filing a lawsuit challenging an unlawful final rule promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would create significant barriers to obtaining health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. In Washington, the final rule would lead to tens of thousands fewer people enrolling in health insurance through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange and $100 million in uninsured and largely uncompensated health care costs that would be borne by state taxpayers, providers, carriers, and employers.

28. State of Washington, et al. v. Federal Emergency Management Agency, et al. (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program shutdown)

On July 16, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 19 other states in suing the Trump administration over its decision to illegally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike. The states allege the Trump administration violated core separation of powers principles and intruded on Congress’ power of the purse by shutting down the program and refusing to spend funds Congress directed toward it. In Washington, there are 27 open projects through the program that total $182 million, with nearly three quarters of that funding going to small towns and rural communities.  

27. State of California, et al. v. McMahon, et al. (Education funding freezes)

On July 14, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 23 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget for the Trump administration’s illegal withholding of $7 billion in education funding already appropriated to the states by Congress. The Trump administration’s actions jeopardized $137 million supporting K-12 students in Washington and more than $13 million to support the state’s community and technical colleges. As of July 31, 2025, all impacted funds were released to the plaintiff states, including Washington. 

26. State of California, et al v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Apple Health customers’ personal health data privacy)

On July 1, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 19 other states in suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over its decision to provide unrestricted access to individual personal health data to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Trump administration’s actions violate the privacy of the more than 1.9 million clients of Apple Health, Washington’s Medicaid program, including about 49,000 who lawfully accessed Medicaid services but who are not eligible for full-scope Medicaid due to their immigration status.

25. State of Washington, et al. v. U.S. Department of Education, et al. (School mental health grant discontinuances)

On June 30, 2025, AG Brown led a coalition with 15 other states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for illegally cutting congressionally approved mental health programs in K-12 schools. The cuts jeopardize $15 million in future grant funds for the University of Washington and three educational service districts in Washington.

24. State of California, et al v. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, et al. (Rollback of fuel economy standards)

On June 20, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 17 other states, the District of Columbia, and the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, and petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to review the decision of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a final rule entitled “Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program.” The Trump administration’s attempt to replace the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards threaten Washington’s ability to reach its climate pollution reduction goals through improved fuel economy. These CAFE standards establish the miles traveled per gallon of fuel used, and vehicle manufacturers must use the standard to achieve an average level of fuel economy across their new vehicles manufactured in a given model year.

23. Association of American Universities, et al. v. Department of Defense and Peter Hegseth (Department of Defense cuts to indirect cost reimbursements)

On June 16, 2025, the University of Washington joined a lawsuit with other universities challenging the U.S. Department of Defense decision to cut indirect cost reimbursements for institutions of higher education. The University of Washington is expected to lose approximately $7 million for innovative research this year if the Department of Defense is allowed to implement the new rate.

22. State of California, et al. v. United States (Congressional Review Act resolutions for state vehicle emission waivers)

On June 12, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 10 other states in suing to challenge the federal government’s unprecedented and unlawful use of the Congressional Review Act to disapprove California’s waivers for its various clean vehicle standards, which Washington has also adopted. At stake is Washington’s ability to follow California’s lead in adopting more stringent emission standards with the goal of fostering technological advancements and protecting people from harmful pollution.

21. State of New Jersey, et al. v. Bondi, et al. (Distribution of machine-gun conversion devices)

On Jun 9, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 14 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives over its plans to distribute thousands of machine-gun conversion devices to communities across the United States. The redistribution of machine-gun conversion devices jeopardizes public safety in Washington, which had 1,053 gun-related fatalities in 2023, and violates state law already banning such instruments. After the state filed its lawsuit, ATF agreed not to distribute the devices into the plaintiff states.

20. State of New York, et al. v. National Science Foundation, et al. (Scientific research funding cuts)

On May 28, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 15 other states in filing a lawsuit against the National Science Foundation, challenging the Trump administration’s attempts to slash over $1 billion in funding for critical scientific research. The states argue that National Science Foundation’s directives violate the Administrative Procedures Act and the Constitution by unlawfully changing policy and ignoring Congress’ intent for how the National Science Foundation should function. Washington institutions alone stand to lose approximately $10 million for scientific research. On August 1, 2025, Southern District New York Judge Cronan denied plaintiffs’ preliminary injunction motion, meaning the grant terminations are still in effect.

19. State of California, et al. v. U.S. Department of Transportation (Transportation funding and immigration enforcement)

On May 13, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 19 other states in suing the U.S. Department of Transportation and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for unlawfully trying to usurp Congress’ power of the purse by imposing an immigration enforcement requirement on billions of dollars in congressionally authorized transportation funding. Washington relies on more than $1 billion in grants administered by the Department of Transportation for vital projects, including for programs to prevent vehicle crashes and to support transit systems.

18. State of Illinois, et al. v. Federal Emergency Management Agency, et al. (Disaster response and national security funding and immigration enforcement)

On May 13, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 19 other states in suing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for imposing sweeping new conditions requiring states to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts to receive critical funding to protect against terrorism and respond to disasters. The Trump administration’s actions jeopardize tens of millions of dollars that Washington uses to protect against and recover from disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes, and to detect, prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorism and other national security incidents. 

17. State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al. (Short-circuiting environmental reviews for energy projects)

On May 9, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 14 other states in filing a lawsuit challenging the president’s baseless executive order declaring a “national energy emergency” to bypass or shorten critical environmental reviews for energy projects focused on fossil fuels. The Trump administration’s actions harm Washington by illegally bypassing or shortening critical environmental reviews for energy projects, jeopardizing the environment and human health, including multiple projects involving pipelines in Washington’s critical salmon habitat.

16. State of Washington, et al. v. U.S. Department of Transportation, et al. (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding termination)

On May 7, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition of 17 states in suing to stop the U.S. Department of Transportation from illegally terminating billions in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure. In Washington, more than $71 million is at stake for building out EV infrastructure in a state where consumers are rapidly adopting this new technology.

15. State of New York, et al. v. Trump, et al. (Illegal attempt to halt all federal permitting for wind energy projects)

On May 5, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 16 other states and the District of Columbia in filing suit against the Trump administration over its unlawful attempt to halt all federal approvals necessary for the development of on-shore-wind energy.  The freeze jeopardizes development of clean energy projects in Washington, where wind is the second largest contributor to renewable energy generation after hydroelectric power. The potential financial impact is large – an industry group quoted in a declaration submitted to the court says renewable energy has brought Washington $36.3 million in tax revenue, $33.4 million in lease payments, and employs 28,600 people. The administration’s actions also harm Washington’s utilities and ratepayers by jeopardizing our use of the cheapest new energy source available in future integrated resource planning.

14. State of New York, et al. v. Kennedy, Jr., et al. (Dismantling of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

On May 5, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 18 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other Trump administration officials to ensure critical services are provided to Washington state. The administration’s illegal actions prevent congressionally-mandated services and halted funding impacting millions of Washingtonians, including but not limited to services and research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that keep workers safe, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs that keep mothers and babies healthy, and the CDC’s HIV and STD prevention labs and programs.  

13. State of Maryland, et al. v. Corporation for National and Community Service, et al. (Dismantling of AmeriCorps)

On April 29, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 23 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit challenging an illegal executive action by AmeriCorps that terminated $400 million in community grants and reduced the agency’s workforce by 85 percent. The suit also challenges the White House Office of Management and Budget’s attempt to withhold tens of millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funding for critical service programs. The executive action cancelled more than $21 million for Serve Washington, Washington’s service commission that manages grants funding AmeriCorps volunteers.

12. State of New York, et al. v. U.S. Department of Education, et al. (Public school funding threat)

On April 25, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 18 other states in filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s threat to withhold federal funding from state and local agencies that refuse to abandon lawful diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and policies promoting equal access to education. More than $1.4 billion in federal education funding for Washington is at risk.

11. State of Rhode Island, et al. v. Trump, et al. (Small agency closures)

On April 4, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 20 other states in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide. The Trump administration’s actions jeopardize millions of dollars for the Washington State Library, the University of Washington, and other state institutions.

10. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al. v. Kennedy, Jr., et al. (National Institutes of Health cuts)

On April 4, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 15 other states in suing the Trump administration for its illegal attempt to disrupt grant funding issued by the National Institutes of Health for certain research projects the administration deems as related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, so-called “gender ideology,” and other topics disfavored by the administration. The University of Washington had millions of dollars in grants terminated, jeopardizing innovative research and forcing the university to furlough and potentially lay off research staff. Following a successful result in the district court, these grants have now been reinstated.

9. State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al. (Elections executive order)

On April 4, 2025, AG Brown and the attorney general of Oregon filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s unlawful executive order attacking elections and voting rights. His order has the potential to disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters in Washington by claiming to require the rejection of any ballots received after election day.

8. State of Colorado, et al. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, et al. (Public health funding cuts)

On April 1, 2025, AG Brown co-led a coalition with 22 other states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for abruptly and illegally terminating $11 billion in critical public health grants to the states. Washington stands to lose more than $159 million from these cancellations. On May 16, a Rhode Island District Court Judge granted the plaintiff states’ motion for a preliminary injunction.

7. State of New York, et al. v. McMahon, et al. (Dismantling the Department of Education)

On March 13, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 19 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Washington’s state agencies rely on the department for numerous functions, including timely disbursement of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding and accreditation of higher educational institutions, among other functions. The coalition argues the administration’s actions are unlawful in part because the Supreme Court has established that Congress has legislative power over the establishment of offices and determination of their functions and jurisdictions.

6. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, et al. v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, et al. (Mass firings of probationary employees)

On March 5, 2025, AG Brown joined a lawsuit led by the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management over the Trump administration’s damaging and illegal efforts to fire federal employees en masse. These illegal actions damage Washingtonians across a spectrum of needs – including the reliability of the state’s energy supply, wildfire and forest management, services to veterans, and supports for small businesses.

5. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al. v. National Institutes of Health, et al. (NIH indirect costs)

On Feb. 10, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 21 other states in suing the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health for unilaterally cutting “indirect cost” reimbursements at universities and research institutions to 15 percent. The administration’s actions go against the direction of Congress in appropriation acts governing the National Institutes of Health. The cuts will result in the loss of more than $120 million in indirect cost funds for the University of Washington and Washington State University.

4. State of New Mexico, et al. v. Musk, et al. (Unlawful delegation of power to Elon Musk)

On Feb. 13, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 13 other states in suing to challenge President Trump’s unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, violating the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution by creating a new federal department without congressional approval. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies that provided more than $20 billion in federal grants to Washington last year alone.

3. State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al. (Gender-affirming care)

On Feb. 7, 2025, AG Brown led a coalition with two other states and three physicians in suing to halt a presidential order that threatens to end federal funding to medical institutions providing gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 19. The states and physicians argue that the order violates constitutional separation of powers by usurping Congress’ legislative powers and exclusive power of the purse. It illegally discriminates against transgender and gender-diverse people. The president’s unlawful executive order jeopardizes about half a billion dollars in federal research and education grants for the University of Washington School of Medicine.

2. State of New York, et al. v. Trump, et al. (U.S. Office of Management and Budget funding freeze)

On Jan. 28, 2025, AG Brown joined a coalition with 21 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration for illegally directing the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to freeze broad swaths of congressionally authorized federal financial assistance. The funding freeze jeopardizes programs in Washington that total as much as $14 billion, including highway planning and construction funds, childcare assistance, and nursing care for veterans.

1. State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al. (Birthright citizenship)

On Jan. 21, 2025, AG Brown led a coalition with three other states in suing the Trump administration to challenge the president’s unconstitutional order attempting to end birthright citizenship in the United States. The president’s unlawful executive order would unilaterally strip citizenship from thousands of babies born in Washington each year, despite the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship.

For a summary of federal litigation under prior Attorney General administrations, click here.