Legal Actions

21 states have sued the Trump administration for directing seven congressionally created agencies—including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)—to reduce their operations and expenditures. The states, which receive significant funding and work closely with these agencies on commerce and education programs, allege that the executive order violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Appropriations Clause, and the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

The Democratic Party has sued the Trump administration for issuing an executive order that interferes with elections. The plaintiffs argue that President Trump seeks to expand authority over federal elections, including by requiring proof of citizenship and by targeting states that extend ballot receipt deadlines. Plaintiffs argue that the EO's provisions violate the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Voter Registration Act, and other federal laws. On April 3, 2025, the case was consolidated with two other lawsuits challenging Trump’s executive order on election integrity. All future filings and updates can be found in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Executive Office of the President (25-cv-00946).

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the United Farm Workers of America, CASA, Inc., and Make the Road New York sued the Trump administration for issuing a rule that requires noncitizens to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration, or risk criminal prosecution. The administration issued the rule as a “procedural rule” without soliciting and addressing public comments. The plaintiffs argue that the rule is not procedural because it burdens and affects millions of people, and thus was issued in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs seek vacatur of the rule.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) has sued the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM), which administers grants to RFA, for cancelling federal funds appropriated by Congress to support its work holding accountable authoritarian regimes in Asia. The plaintiffs argue that the cancellation of grants violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the International Broadcasting Act and appropriations law, as well as the separation of powers, the Take Care Clause, the Appropriations Clause, the Spending Clause and the Presentment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Michael Abramowitz, the Director of Voice of America, and a group of journalists have sued the Trump administration for terminating Abramowitz as part of the administration's plan to shrink the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The plaintiffs argue that USAGM is unlawfully interfering with the Voice of America's ability to conduct its congressionally-mandated work, in violation of the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian recent graduate of Columbia University who had led negotiations on behalf of pro-Palestine protestors on the Columbia campus in spring 2024, was arrested by federal immigration enforcement. Khalil's student visa and green card establishing permanent residence had been revoked, even though permanent residents are entitled to due process before any revocation of their status. Khalil’s attorneys filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and argued that ICE’s arrest and detention of Khalil on the basis of his speech and activism violated the Due Process Clause and the First Amendment. On March 19, 2025, the case was transferred from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (1:25-cv-01935).

The City of New York has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's reversal of previously granted federal funding for emergency shelter for migrants. On February 11, 2025, the federal government withdrew a sum of $80,481,861.42 from the central bank account of the City of New York without notice or proper administrative process. The sum had been paid to the city only a week earlier by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the agency's congressionally-funded Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which reimburses municipal governments and nonprofits for sheltering migrants released from Department of Homeland Security custody. The plaintiff argue that the withdrawal of New York's funds for sheltering migrants was a part of the Trump administration's larger goal of eliminating the SSP program entirely. The plaintiff allege that the Trump administration's reversal of funding violates the Administrative Procedure Act by taking action outside of statutory authority. The plaintiff requests that the court order the defendants to return the $80 million sum to the City of New York's bank account.

A coalition of eight states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs. The states argue that these grant terminations were issued without warning and with immediate effect, and therefore violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Spending Clause, and the separation of powers. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent disruptions to these programs.