Arizona Files New Lawsuits Against Trump Administration

News Summary

Arizona has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration to secure funding for public health research and libraries. Filed on April 4, these lawsuits represent Arizona’s firm stance against federal funding cuts. One lawsuit challenges an executive order targeting essential federal agencies, while the other confronts the National Institutes of Health over improper grant reviews. Arizona highlights the significance of these funds for community health and literacy initiatives, aiming to protect resources vital for its residents.

Arizona Takes a Stand: New Lawsuits Filed Against Trump Administration

In an important move, Arizona has officially filed two new lawsuits against the Trump administration, aiming to secure crucial funding for public health research and local libraries. This significant legal action was taken on April 4 and marks the tenth and eleventh cases initiated by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes since taking office in January. The lawsuits not only represent Arizona’s stance but also align with efforts from other Democratic attorneys general aiming to counteract the reduction in federal government programs during Trump’s tenure.

Challenging the Presidential Executive Order

Among the two lawsuits, one particularly takes aim at Trump’s executive order from March 14 that sought to slash the operations of seven smaller federal government entities to the minimum required by law. Affected by this order is the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the federal agency responsible for providing essential funding to local libraries and supporting employee salaries at the Arizona State Library.

Over the past five years, Arizona has benefited from more than $18 million in federal funds through the Arizona State Library. These funds have been channeled into valuable initiatives such as digitizing historical records, promoting literacy, and delivering tech support to communities. Libraries have been vital hubs for residents, serving around 3 million library card holders who visited library facilities 14 million times in 2023 alone.

Mayes argues that a withdrawal of federal support for libraries could exacerbate socio-economic divides across the state, significantly impacting vital youth literacy programs. With support from 20 other state attorneys general, the lawsuit is filed in federal court in Rhode Island. The collective stance contends that Trump’s order is unconstitutional and violates the Administrative Procedure Act, which stipulates that he cannot arbitrarily override Congress-approved federal funding.

Addressing Public Health Research and NIH Fundings

The second lawsuit targets the National Institutes of Health (NIH), challenging the agency for allegedly failing to conduct proper grant reviews and interfering with significant grants valued at billions of dollars. Reports indicate that grants connected to key areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, transgender rights, and vaccine hesitancy faced targeted cuts under the Trump administration.

This lawsuit points out the troubling fact that vital projects at Arizona State University have been put on hold, and the NIH has not responded to 34 proposals from Northern Arizona University seeking approximately $47 million in funding. One particularly concerning aspect is the cessation of a crucial program that previously helped Native American students transferring from Coconino Community College, which relied on around $200,000 in funding that has now disappeared.

For public universities in Arizona, the figures are quite revealing: they received 425 NIH awards totaling over $229 million during the 2024 fiscal year. Mayes emphasizes that these federal grants are not just numbers; they are the lifeblood of critical medical breakthroughs and fundamental public health research.

The lawsuits are seen as a way to claw back support vital for Arizona’s well-being. The actions taken by the Trump administration, according to Mayes, threaten the health of Arizona communities and undermine essential scientific progress. Not long ago, separate lawsuits regarding NIH grant funding cuts were already filed in February, which led to a preliminary injunction against those reductions.

A Legal Showdown on the Horizon

Both lawsuits were filed in federal court, one in Massachusetts and the other in Rhode Island, signaling a committed legal strategy from Arizona. As these cases unfold, the hope is that they’ll not only re-establish funding for libraries and health research but also create a ripple effect in protecting other states facing similar challenges. Arizona is determined to fight for necessary resources for its communities, acknowledging the pressing need for accessible libraries and robust public health initiatives.

As the situation continues to develop, all eyes will be on how these legal efforts will impact funding and services essential to the residents of Arizona.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Arizona Central
• KVOA
• MSN
• Wikipedia: Executive Order
• Google Search: Trump Executive Order