Connecticut, 22 other states will sue to stop halt to federal funds
Connecticut is "going on the offensive" according to Attorney General William Tong, planning to sue the Trump Administration to stop a memorandum issued late Monday night that would halt federal funds to states.
AG Tong made the announcement, joining other state leaders, during a press conference at the state capitol on Tuesday. Twenty-two other states are included in the lawsuit.
The announcement came as a federal judge temporarily blocked the federal funding freeze, just minutes before it was going to go into effect, according to the Associated Press. The freeze will be paused until Monday.
A link to the lawsuit can be found here.
The White House says federal assistance to individuals would not be affected, including Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, student loans and scholarships.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd Dist.), who serves as the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, said what President Donald Trump is trying to do is an illegal seizure of funds.
“This is unprecedented in American history the memo explicitly ask agencies to place unqualified political cronies in charge of the process. They will push out experience civil servants and ignore the law. It’s a recipe for chaos and suffering," DeLauro said.
Tong called the memo a "war on the American people" and "Connecticut families."
"I think it's pretty clear after seven days that President Trump doesn't just want to remake America and culture and society, doesn't just want to cancel some DEI programs, I think it's clear he means to hurt us," Tong said. "He's talking about every federal grant, which impacts every family, every facet of life, nonprofits, cities and towns."
He further added that the memo is "not a serious document about governing," but instead a "radical, political manifesto."
Both the governor and lieutenant governor say the state is prepared to do all they can to make sure Connecticut residents have access to the services they need, despite the funding freeze.
"Everything that is in our state budget, we will continue to make those payments. We've got a surplus, I know that makes some people nervous but that means we have a little extra so we'll be able to take care of all those state employees that may be cut off," Gov. Ned Lamont said.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said the memo is "devastating because people are relying on federal funding to get through the day," and that state leaders will stand up for "Connecticut values" by pushing back against the federal spending freeze.
U.S. Rep. John Larson, (D-1st Dist.), remarked, "Do you think Elon Musk or Donald Trump will miss an hour, a moment of sleep tonight about what they've just done? The calls we’ve received today from everyday people – mothers concerned about child care, students concerned about their loans, people afraid they’re not going be able to make their housing payment. These are real people. These are Americans! This Attorney General, this Governor, and our colleagues in Congress are going stand up and fight every single inch of the way because we are for the American people and the citizens of the State of Connecticut.”
U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, (D-5th Dist.), who also attended the conference, said the memo is an "attempt by President Trump to impound Congressionally approved funding and prevent its use and disbursement," calling it "unlawful" and "devastating to the millions of people who rely on federal programs."
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon added that federal funding is a "lifeline" to the people of Connecticut, and that "people in this state will be hurt" by the freeze.
“President Trump’s reckless decision to abruptly freeze federal grants and loans will have immediate and disastrous consequences for Connecticut. As Comptroller, it’s my job to track what we get from Washington D.C. and how we spend it. In fiscal year 2024, more than $14.3 billion passed from the federal government through our state agencies directly to Connecticut residents, nonprofits, schools, and much, much more. While the exact list of impacted programs remains unclear, what is clear is this: any pause, however brief, of any federal funding will hurt people in Connecticut," Scanlon said.
Additional Connecticut leaders provided their reactions to the announcement after the news conference.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said that "Connecticut organizations are already feeling the impact of the Trump Administration's freeze on federal funding - causing chaos and confusion."
"The results will be dangerous and deeply disturbing. I’m continuing to hear from organizations across Connecticut that will have to cut services and lay off staff, disrupting the critical everyday services that they provide seniors, people with disabilities, low income families and others. I fully support Attorney General Tong’s decision to challenge this blatantly illegal order, and I’ll continue to work with the rest of the delegation and the state of Connecticut to find legal and legislative solutions to this unprecedented, unconstitutional order,” Blumenthal said.
House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding said in a response to the news conference, "It’s no surprise that Connecticut Democrats, showcasing their penchant for theatrics over substance, are raising alarm over President Trump’s common-sense efforts to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely and align with his executive actions. After all, these are the same individuals who believe taxpayers should foot the bill for placing tampons in boys’ bathrooms in our schools. Let’s be clear: the President’s federal funding pause is far from the doomsday scenario Democrats are peddling. Their claims are nothing more than an attempt to gaslight Connecticut residents. If Attorney General Tong and other Democrat leaders invested half as much effort into lowering costs for electric ratepayers as they do defending criminal illegal aliens and librarians promoting sexualized content in schools, Connecticut families would be far better off."