Democratic Attorneys General Say Trump Is ‘Punishing’ States by Freezing Welfare Funds

The attorneys general of New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California and Illinois filed a lawsuit to block the administration from pausing the funds.

New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and other state attorneys general sued the administration over funding cuts. Yuki Iwamura/AP

Democratic attorneys general from New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California and Illinois say the Trump administration violated the Constitution when it froze state welfare funds, a move they say was vindictive and unjustified.

The five states filed a lawsuit on Thursday asking the courts to reverse a $10 billion funding freeze announced earlier this week.

“This unlawful funding freeze is about one thing: punishing Democratic states that oppose the president,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a joint press conference with the other attorneys general on Friday.