The Sconi

Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul have announced Wisconsin's participation in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration's recent policy that aims to halt federal assistance, grants, and loans crucial for various state programs. This move is part of a broader coalition involving 22 states seeking to block the policy.

The Trump Administration's directive could significantly impact federal funding that supports essential services such as health care, education, law enforcement, and disaster relief. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that Wisconsin stands to receive $28.2 billion in federal investments over the 2023-25 biennium.

Governor Evers has expressed concern over the potential consequences of this policy on Wisconsin residents. In a letter to President Trump, he urged reconsideration of the policy, stating it could have "disastrous consequences" for people in Wisconsin. He emphasized the need for immediate guidance on how these changes would affect support for families and communities.

"This was a sweeping, reckless decision that has caused unnecessary chaos and panic in Wisconsin and across our country," said Gov. Evers. He highlighted the dependency of Wisconsinites on federal funds for basic needs and services.

Attorney General Kaul also criticized the administration's actions: "The Trump administration’s freeze of vital funding—apparently including funding for law enforcement, victim services, health programs, infrastructure, education—has already resulted in widespread uncertainty and confusion."

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued this policy late on January 27th. It mandates all federal agencies to pause most assistance funding starting at 5 p.m. ET on January 28th. The lawsuit argues that this has led to chaos among Americans relying on federally funded programs like community health centers and mental health services.

Furthermore, jeopardizing these funds could endanger public safety by limiting resources available to law enforcement agencies combating hate crimes and violence against women.

Despite attempts by the administration to clarify OMB's policy scope, several federal programs remain frozen according to reports from states involved in the lawsuit. They argue that OMB’s actions violate constitutional provisions by overriding laws governing federal spending without proper authority from Congress.

States joining Wisconsin include New York, California, Illinois among others along with cities like Washington D.C., collectively challenging what they view as an unconstitutional exercise of power affecting critical state functions nationwide.