Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has taken legal action against federal agencies under President Trump, accusing them of unlawfully withholding approved federal aid from the state. Despite previous court rulings against the Trump administration’s funding freeze, Shapiro’s lawsuit claims that the federal agencies are defying court orders to restore the suspended funds. The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia, describes the agencies’ actions as “flagrantly lawless” and asserts that they lack the authority to withhold congressionally appropriated funds over policy disagreements without justification.
Efforts by Shapiro, state agencies, and members of Congress to restore access to the funds have been unsuccessful despite temporary restraining orders. The lawsuit names the White House Office of Management and Budget, the EPA, and the Departments of Energy, Interior, and Transportation as defendants. The Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans, issued in January, led to confusion and disruptions in various programs, even after the memo was rescinded.
Shapiro’s administration claims that around $2.5 billion in grants and reimbursements for Pennsylvania are currently suspended or under review without proper explanation. The lawsuit argues that adding new conditions to approved federal aid and withholding funds without legal justification violate the U.S. Constitution’s spending clause. The legal battle underscores the tension between state and federal authorities over the distribution of essential funding for programs such as environmental conservation and energy efficiency.
