As Trump looks to punish foes, Democratic states find ways to push back
Democratic attorneys general say more than 60 lawsuits seek to restore aid as courts block some funding cuts and states pass new limits.
- President Donald Trump has withheld billions in federal funding from Democratic-led states, sparking more than 700 active court cases challenging the administration's actions nationwide.
- Since taking office last year, Trump has withheld disaster aid and social services from states with critical governors, a strategy scholars call "punitive federalism" to pressure political rivals.
- The Department of Health and Human Services withheld $10 billion in childcare and social services, citing alleged fraud without offering evidence. The administration also denied disaster aid to Maryland despite more than $30 million in documented flood damages.
- Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta said more than half of his 60-plus cases aim to retrieve congressionally appropriated funding. "He has decided to be consistent and frequent in his violations," Bonta told Stateline regarding Trump.
- Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the country's founding on July 4, state legislators have proposed more than 250 bills to limit federal enforcement and push back against White House policies.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Trump's revenge backfires: Blue states winning legal battles against federal retaliation
Editor’s note: This is the second article in The 50 vs. The One, an occasional series examining the current fraught moment and what evolving — and often deteriorating — state-federal ties mean for the country. Read the first article here.President Donald Trump is wielding power in unprecedented ways...
Dems turn the tables on Trump's game against blue states
Editor’s note: This is the second article in The 50 vs. The One, an occasional series examining the current fraught moment and what evolving — and often deteriorating — state-federal ties mean for the country. Read the first article here.President Donald Trump is wielding power in unprecedented ways to bring states to heel, marking a dark new chapter in the relationship between the federal government and the states.Since taking office last year,…
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