Legal Actions

The State of Maine has sued the Trump administration for withholding funds that provide meals to children in schools, childcare centers, and after-school programming as well as disabled adults in congregate settings. In a letter sent to Maine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would be freezing the funding because of Maine's alleged violation of Title IX in educational programming. The plaintiff argues that the Trump administration is violating the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by withholding congressionally-appropriated funds. On May 2, 2025, the parties announced that they executed a settlement agreement, and Maine voluntarily dismissed its claims with prejudice.

The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) brought suit to challenge the Trump administration's dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a non-partisan and independent agency supporting and funding museums and libraries. The plaintiffs argue that cutting congressionally-funded programs at IMLS violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the separation of powers, the Take Care Clause of the Constitution, and the First Amendment.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has sued the Trump administration for closing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) entire Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) laid off the entire staff for CDC's FOIA office. The plaintiff argues that the CDC must be compelled to comply with the law and to provide the information CREW and other requesters are seeking through their outstanding FOIA requests with the agency. They also argue that the closure of the CDC FOIA office violates FOIA and the Administrative Procedure Act.

A coalition of 19 attorneys general have sued the Trump administration over Executive Order 14248, which establishes voting restrictions and procedures for counting ballots. The plaintiffs argue that the President has no constitutional power to rewrite state election laws, and thus the EO goes beyond the scope of presidential power and violates the constitutional principle of the separation of powers.

Advocacy organizations and individuals with disabilities have sued the Trump administration over the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) staff reductions and office eliminations at the Social Security Administration (SSA). The plaintiffs argue that DOGE's restructuring of the SSA violates the Rehabilitation Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

A coalition of non-profits dedicated to voting rights have filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump's Executive Order 14248, which would grant the president broad ranging and unprecedented power over the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). This executive order includes provisions instructing the EAC to require certain documents (such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport) in order to register to vote and orders the EAC to limit states from using absentee or mail-in ballots. The plaintiffs argue that Executive Order 14248 defies the separation of powers defined in the Constitution as well as the National Voter Registration Act. The plaintiffs requests that the court declare Executive Order 14248 unlawful and issue an injunction preventing the defendants from enforcing it. On April 3, 2025 this case was consolidated with Democratic National Committee v. Trump (25-cv-0952) and League of United Latin American Citizens v. Executive Office of the President (25-cv-0946), which continues as the lead case.

The media organization Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. has sued the Trump administration for withholding congressionally-appropriated funds. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) withheld funds from Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), which MBN relies on to support independent journalism in the Middle East and North Africa. The plaintiffs argue that the termination of MBN’s funding is violates the Administrative Procedure Act; the Presentment, Appropriations, and Spending Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, and the constitutional principle of the separation of powers. On April 10, 2025, the parties agreed to brief the case alongside the related case, Radio Free Asia v. United States (24-cv-0907).

A coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia have sued the Trump administration for the termination of $11 billion in critical public health funding appropriated by Congress. These terminations were cancelled without advance notice or warning. The plaintiffs argue that the termination notices violate the Administrative Procedure Act, other federal statutes, the separation of powers, and the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.