Following Suits

• A coalition of 21 state attorneys general?sued?President Trump?and Secretary of Education?Linda McMahon,?arguing that their recent actions exceeded the authority of the executive branch. The suit comes after the U.S. Department of Education?laid off?more than 1,300 employees.?The attorneys general are asking a federal judge?to block the Trump administration from firing any additional employees and rule that its effective dismantling of the department is illegal. ???READ:?Sharing the Facts About State Authority and Education ?

• Federal?judges?ordered?more than a dozen federal agencies to?reinstate thousands of employees improperly fired by the Trump administration.?The first case was brought by a group of unions, and the second was brought by?20 state attorneys general?led by Maryland Attorney General?Anthony Brown.?“These mass firings reflect a disregard for both the law and the essential role of the civil service in maintaining government stability,” Brown?said. “Our Office is committed to upholding the rule of law and will take every necessary legal step to ensure compliance with this court order.” ?
• Trump?asked?the U.S. Supreme Court to limit rulings that are blocking his efforts?to?deny citizenship to some U.S.-born children.?Federal judges in?Maryland,?Massachusetts,?New Hampshire, and?Washington state?have all blocked Trump’s executive order from going into effect, as a result of lawsuits brought by civil rights groups and?22 state attorneys general. ???READ:?Sharing the Facts About Birthright Citizenship ?

• Two federal judges ruled that the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?must provide records about its inner workings,?in accordance?with federal transparency laws.?In the first case, brought by a?government watchdog organization, the judge?ruled?that DOGE has been operating with “unusual secrecy” and ordered it to produce records on an “expedited basis.” In the second case, brought by?14 state attorneys general, the judge?ruled?that the states had a right to know who was working for DOGE and what authority they have. ?
• A federal judge?blocked?parts of yet another Trump executive order, writing that it “threatens the very foundation of our legal system.” The order, signed by Trump?last week, sought to penalize a law firm that represented his political opponents and challenged him in court. It’s his latest action that seeks to exact retribution against his adversaries based on lies and conspiracies. Twenty-one state attorneys general led by Washington Attorney General?Nick Brown?filed a brief?in support of the firm,?the rule of law,?and Americans’ right to oppose the government. ?
• The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)?cut funding for two election security programs.?The?programs helped state and local election officials share and analyze information with each other.?Kim Wyman,?Washington state’s former secretary of state and a member of?States United’s?Advisory Board,?said?that the programs helped minimize disruptions during the 2024 election and keep voters safe.

State of the States

In Maine,?despite?multiple?court?orders?directing the federal government to unfreeze funds for states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture?paused?millions in funds for the University of Maine System. The federally funded?programs?included farm research, youth programs, development of new resources for firefighters, and more. Funds were later restored, but the Trump administration is continuing to hold up congressionally appropriated funding for other states and only releasing them on an individual basis.?Gov. Janet Mills released a statement welcoming the decision to restore funding.

“It is a relief to the many students, staff, and faculty who depend on that funding to support cutting-edge research and development, prepare for careers in Maine, and make valuable contributions to our rural communities and our economy,” she?said. “This decision also benefits many Maine farmers, loggers, and others who work in close partnership with UMaine.”?

In the News

• Financial Times:?What will Trump mean for personal wealth?

Back in 2023, with candidates who denied the result of the 2020 presidential election prevailing in a number of statewide races, Princeton professor Layna Mosley issued a report, along with the Brookings Institution and the?States United Democracy Center,?which looked at the financial and economic dangers of democratic backsliding in the country. The report found, among other things, a major “democratic advantage in the realm of sovereign borrowing”, and a disproportionate effect of increased political risk in the US on financial markets. “The primary effect of democratic backsliding on investment portfolios could be dramatic?…?shocks to US bond and equity markets, the US banking system, and the US dollar would be transmitted throughout the global economy.” ?

• The Associated Press:?Musk and DOGE try to slash government by cutting out those who answer to voters ?

• CBS News:?Watchdogs fired by Trump raise alarms over future of independent government oversight ?

• CNN:?Growing judicial voices challenge Trump’s erosion of constitutional norms ?

• Politico:?Judge rejects DOJ’s effort to expand reach of Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon ?

• The New York Times:?Judge Orders U.S.A.I.D. and State Dept. to Pay Funds ‘Unlawfully’ Withheld ?

• NBC News:?Federal judges raise alarm about security threats and impeachment calls ?

• NBC News:?Newsmax reveals it agreed to pay Smartmatic $40M in settlement with the voting machine company ?

• Colorado Public Radio:?Colorado calls DOJ interest in Tina Peters’ case a ‘grotesque attempt to weaponize the rule of law’ ?

• WUNC:?In legal filings, former elections directors and military leaders oppose Griffin's ballot protests ?

• Arizona Republic:?Adrian Fontes implores feds to spare cybersecurity programs that help protect elections

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