New Jersey and Delaware have joined a coalition of states, including New York, California, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, in a planned lawsuit against the Trump administration over its recent decision to pause federal financial assistance. Pennsylvania has not yet decided whether to join the lawsuit.
On Tuesday, New Jersey and Delaware filed a federal lawsuit alongside 20 other states and the District of Columbia following President Donald Trump’s administration’s announcement of a freeze on federal grants and loans. A federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze just moments before it was scheduled to take effect, allowing the funding to continue until at least Monday, according to the Associated Press.
“Trump’s directive to halt Congressionally-authorized federal aid is not only immoral but also unconstitutional,” stated New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, a Democrat, in a post on X. “We are promptly filing a multi-state federal lawsuit seeking an immediate injunction against this unlawful order. We will continue to fight for the rights of New Jersey residents.”
Natalie Hamilton, a spokesperson for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, mentioned earlier on Tuesday that the Democratic governor would convene his cabinet to discuss the implications of the federal aid freeze. She indicated that the governor has instructed his team to evaluate how this decision might affect the state’s budget and services.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, also a Democrat, expressed her concerns in a Facebook post, stating that the freeze on federal grants would impact “millions in funding for education, infrastructure, health care, and public safety.” She declared, “It is illegal, and we will not tolerate it. We are taking legal action. See you in court.”
The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general from a total of 20 states, including California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, in addition to New Jersey, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who frequently challenged the Trump administration as attorney general during his first term, stated on Tuesday that he has been in contact with both Democratic and Republican governors throughout the day to assess the potential impact of the funding freeze.
“Governments across the nation, led by both Republicans and Democrats, are genuinely concerned about their ability to manage daily operations,” Shapiro noted, highlighting Pennsylvania’s unique situation since the state’s attorney general is now a Republican.
Shapiro mentioned that he had spoken with Pennsylvania’s new Republican attorney general, Dave Sunday, but did not disclose details of their conversation. He declined to comment on whether Sunday should join the lawsuit initiated by New Jersey.
Brett Hambright, a spokesperson for Sunday, stated that the attorney general’s office is “reviewing the announcement and assessing the potential impact” of the freeze when asked about possibly joining the lawsuit.
