Attorney General Anne Lopez has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing a second motion for enforcement against the Trump administration's freeze on federal funding. The coalition is challenging what they describe as an "illegal and destructive" block of funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which they argue affects crucial emergency preparedness and recovery programs.
"The Trump administration continues to interfere with access to federal funds despite multiple court orders," stated Attorney General Lopez. She emphasized her commitment to ensuring that Hawai‘i residents have access to necessary services and programs.
The lawsuit was initially filed on January 28, with a temporary restraining order (TRO) granted by the court on January 31, blocking the freeze. Further motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction were filed on February 7, resulting in a court order on February 8 mandating compliance with the TRO.
Despite these legal actions, the coalition reports continued withholding of essential funding by the administration. This ongoing issue affects hundreds of millions of dollars in FEMA grants intended for state programs dealing with wildfire prevention, cybersecurity, flood mitigation, and emergency management.
The second motion for enforcement seeks a court order to release the funds unless evidence is provided showing they have been made available. The motion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Joining Attorney General Lopez are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.