New York Attorney General Letitia James has once again turned her attention to former President Donald Trump, this time targeting his administration’s recent decision to temporarily halt certain federal funding. Known for her relentless legal battles against Trump, James’ latest move aligns with her history of challenging his policies and actions.
The controversy centers on the Trump administration’s temporary suspension of federal grants and loans, a decision outlined in an internal memo from the White House budget office. According to the memo, the pause was implemented to ensure compliance with President Trump’s executive orders, particularly those aimed at curbing spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, clean energy programs, and foreign aid. The administration framed the move as a step toward aligning federal spending with its policy priorities.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, James criticized the decision, calling it “reckless and dangerous.” She argued that the funding freeze would harm communities nationwide, stating, “Programs in communities across the entire nation depend on this funding to support our families, and this action is only going to hurt them.” The following day, she announced her office’s plans to take legal action, writing, “My office will be taking imminent legal action against this administration’s unconstitutional pause on federal funding. We won’t sit idly by while this administration harms our families.”
However, the Trump administration has defended the pause as a necessary measure to ensure fiscal responsibility and adherence to its policy goals. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Acting Director Matthew Vaeth, issued a memorandum explaining that the temporary halt was intended to review and align federal spending with President Trump’s priorities, such as “unleashing American energy and manufacturing,” “ending wokeness,” and “promoting efficiency in government.” The memo noted that over $3 trillion of the federal government’s nearly $7 trillion Fiscal Year 2024 budget is allocated to grants and loans, emphasizing the need to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively.
Federal agencies were instructed to identify programs that conflict with Trump’s executive orders, including “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” and “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs.” The administration clarified that the pause would not affect critical programs like Social Security or Medicare, nor would it impact direct payments to individuals. Officials argued that the measure was a prudent step to realign federal spending with the administration’s objectives.
Despite these explanations, James has moved forward with her legal challenge, a move that critics argue is politically motivated. They point out that the cost of such litigation will ultimately fall on New York taxpayers, not James personally.
This latest clash underscores the ongoing tension between James and the Trump administration, as well as the broader ideological divide over federal spending priorities and the role of government in addressing social and economic issues. As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the courts will weigh in on the constitutionality of the funding pause and its implications for communities reliant on federal support.