The Sconi

Attorney General Josh Kaul has taken further legal action against the Trump administration by joining a coalition of 22 other attorneys general. They have filed a second motion for enforcement concerning an ongoing lawsuit related to the administration's freeze on federal funding. This freeze affects hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intended for states, impacting programs for emergency preparedness and recovery.

AG Kaul stated, "The Trump administration must follow the law and comply with court orders. Its continued failure to do so in this case is not only a serious concern—it also means that funds to prepare for and respond to emergencies are being blocked, putting people’s safety and security at risk."

The initial lawsuit was filed on January 28, followed by a temporary restraining order (TRO) granted on January 31, which temporarily halted the funding freeze. On February 7, motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction were filed to maintain federal funding until the case concludes. The court granted the first motion for enforcement on February 8, mandating compliance with the TRO.

Despite these measures, AG Kaul and his colleagues report that essential funding remains withheld by the administration. The frozen funds include FEMA grants crucial for wildfire prevention response, cybersecurity, flood mitigation, and emergency management programs.

The second motion for enforcement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. It seeks a court order demanding fund release unless evidence is provided showing they have been unfrozen.

This legal effort is led by attorneys general from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Other states involved include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington as well as the District of Columbia.