Silver State Times

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal action aims to halt a new policy from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that withholds federal funding critical to state services.

The OMB's directive, announced on January 27, indefinitely pauses most federal assistance to states, impacting programs essential for health care, education, disaster relief, and law enforcement support. The attorneys general seek a court order to stop this policy's enforcement and maintain necessary funding.

Attorney General Ford stated, "As I have stated previously, President Trump won the 2024 election and has the right to enact his policies within the bounds of the law." He added that he would challenge any unconstitutional actions by the president in court.

The OMB policy took effect at 5:00 pm on January 28, causing immediate disruptions. Services such as community health centers and addiction treatment programs face uncertainty due to frozen funds. Law enforcement resources are also threatened, affecting initiatives against hate crimes and violence against women.

The lawsuit argues that the OMB's policy violates constitutional provisions and the Administrative Procedure Act by overriding laws governing federal spending without congressional approval. It contends that only Congress has the authority to allocate federal funds.

Leading this legal effort are attorneys general from New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. They are joined by their counterparts from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.