Shapiro files lawsuit against Trump administration over funding freeze
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is suing the Trump administration for withholding $2.1 billion in federal funding.
- Shapiro argues that the Trump administration is breaking a contract by withholding funds already approved by Congress.
- The withheld funds were allocated to support public health, clean energy, clean water initiatives, and rural job creation.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is suing the Trump administration over a federal funding freeze that's denying state agencies $2.1 billion.
Shapiro, in a statement, said that despite court rulings ordering the funding to be released and his administration's work with federal lawmakers, some $1.2 billion in federal funding, and another $900,000 requiring review by federal agencies, could not be accessed as of Wednesday.
“The federal government has entered into a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, promising to provide billions of dollars in Congressionally-approved funding that we have committed to serious needs — like protecting public health, cutting energy costs, providing safe, clean drinking water, and creating jobs in rural communities,” Shapiro said in an announcement. “With this funding freeze, the Trump Administration is breaking that contract — and it’s my job as governor to protect Pennsylvania’s interests.
"Over the past two weeks, my team and I have engaged with our Congressional delegation to try to restore access to all the federal funding Pennsylvania has been promised under law — but despite those efforts, state agencies remain unable to draw down these critical dollars," he continued. "While multiple federal judges have ordered the Trump Administration to unfreeze this funding, access has not been restored, leaving my Administration with no choice but to pursue legal action to protect the interests of the Commonwealth and its residents.”
Pennsylvania House Democrats applauded the move, saying in a statement that the funding freeze is "unconstitutional, unacceptable and immoral."
This is a developing story.