A coalition of 60 local governments across the United States represented by Pacifica secured another important win yesterday in their fight to protect more than $12 billion in federal funds relied upon by communities across the country to support unhoused people, fund health services and public transit, build and maintain highways and railways, and improve and develop airports.
Pacifica is representing a coalition of more than 60 cities, counties, and housing and transit authorities that filed suit against the federal government to safeguard the funds. Public Rights Project is serving as co-counsel in the case. The agencies named in the lawsuit as defendants include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Railroad Administration.
This is the latest ruling in the case by U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein in favor of the coalition of local governments. Pacifica initially filed suit on May 2, 2025 on behalf of eight cities and counties in five states, but after Judge Rothstein issued a temporary restraining order on May 7, 23 additional government entities representing communities in seven more states joined the plaintiff coalition. On June 3, Judge Rothstein granted a preliminary injunction to the expanded coalition. Pacifica then filed a second amended complaint on July 10, adding additional plaintiffs to bring the total to 60.
In granting the coalition’s motion for preliminary injunction, Judge Rothstein again prohibited the federal agencies from conditioning federal funding on the local governments’ agreement to adhere to the Trump administration’s policies to eliminate all forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, help with the administration’s aggressive and lawless immigration enforcement, target and punish transgender people, and cut off information about lawful abortions.
The federal funds came under threat earlier this spring when federal agencies placed new conditions on grants in an effort to coerce local governments into cooperating with President Trump’s political agenda.
The Pacifica litigation team includes Paul Lawrence, Jamie Lisagor, Sarah Washburn, Meha Goyal, Galen Knowles, and Luther Reed-Caulkins, and legal assistant Gabby DeGregorio.
Click here to read the latest order granting preliminary injunction.
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