Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit to keep funding for states after OMB issues new policy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha announced on Tuesday that he is co-leading 23 attorney generals in suing to stop the Trump administration’s new policy.

The policy rules that trillions of dollars in funding will be withheld from states, which Neronha said would impact state programs such as childcare for families, support to public schools, combat violence against women, disaster relief to states, addiction and mental health treatment, and other health services. 

Neronha, along with attorney generals in 22 other states and Washington D.C., are looking to “immediately” stop this policy and keep the funding for states.

The President’s Office of Management and Budget issued this policy on Jan. 27, which ordered the pause of the funding to begin at 5 p.m. on Jan. 28.

Neronha’s office said the coalition of attorney generals claim this policy has caused chaos and uncertainty for millions of American citizens who need state programs.

In the lawsuit, the coalition believes the withholding of funds will put people in danger, and deprive law enforcement of “much-need resources,” impacting initiatives to combat hate crimes, community policing, and support for victims, according to Neronha’s office. 

In Rhode Island, Neronha added this funding impacts the funding needed to rebuild the Washington Bridge.

The coalition also argues the policy violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act, claiming the stop was imposed “without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of federal funding.”

Additionally, the attorney generals argue “that the president cannot decide to unilaterally override laws governing federal spending, and that OMB’s policy unconstitutionally overrides Congress’s power to decide how federal funds are spent,” according to Neronha’s office. 

“Any pause to federal funding programs would have immediate and catastrophic effects for Rhode Islanders and Americans everywhere,” Neronha said. “Such a pause, which OMB announced last night without a definitive end, would result in financial chaos for everyday programs on which people rely to survive, including programs related to health care and food for children. States everywhere receive billions in federal grants that support public safety, education, transportation, the environment, and more. If this funding pause is allowed, its devastating impact will be widespread and dangerous, as these programs touch many Americans in one way or another, whether they realize it or not. Illegal attempts by the Executive Branch to abruptly sever access to crucial funding sources with less than a day’s notice is reckless and will be met with immediate action to stop such measures.”