15 local governments seek to join lawsuit to stop Trump administration’s illegal attack on housing, transit and health funding  

For immediate release: Nov. 10, 2025

Media contact: Jackie Jena, jackie@publicrightsproject.org

OAKLAND, CA — Fifteen local governments across the country have asked to join a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to withhold critical federal grants unless cities and counties adopt its harmful political agenda. 

If these governments are added by the court, the case, King County v. Turner, will include a total of 75 plaintiffs. The lawsuit targets restrictions tied to grants administered by the U.S. departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation (DOT), and Health and Human Services (HHS).

The administration is demanding that local governments align with its policies on immigration enforcement; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; gender equity; and abortion access. 

The case argues that these conditions are unconstitutional and exceed executive authority because they fall outside the scope of what Congress authorized. 

The district court has already issued two preliminary injunctions blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the contested grant conditions, canceling awarded funds or forcing local governments to formally agree to the conditions in order to receive grants. 

“No community should have to choose between essential services and its values,” said Jill Habig, founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “Our growing coalition underscores how these illegal funding conditions are hurting our cities. Together, we’re fighting to protect both local power and the well-being of millions of people.”

In Cincinnati, Ohio, for example, new federal restrictions jeopardize funding for critical programs, including homelessness services, affordable rental housing opportunities and clinical health services for residents. At the same time, the city depends on DOT grants to move forward with major infrastructure projects such as the Western Hills Viaduct replacement. This critical project will connect more than 115,000 residents to their workplaces.

The complaint explains that the new plaintiffs are facing upcoming deadlines to agree to unlawful grant conditions or lose their funding. While the case continues, the coalition is asking the court to extend the previous preliminary injunction to include the newly added plaintiffs, as well as three existing plaintiffs (Nashville, Tucson and Denver) that weren’t protected under the earlier filing for HHS grants.

The coalition is represented by Public Rights Project (PRP) and Pacifica Law Group, which are serving as co-counsel in the case. Together, they’re supporting local governments across the country as they push back against federal abuse of power and defend their right to make decisions in the best interest of their communities.

The new plaintiffs are:

• Albany, NY
• Allegheny County, Penn.
• Berkeley, Calif.
• Bothell, Wash.
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Delaware County, Del.
• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority 
• New Haven, Conn.
• Olympia, Wash.
• Palo Alto, Calif.
• Port Angeles, Wash.
• Santa Fe, N.M.
• Spokane, Wash.
• Tacoma, Wash.
• Thurston County, Wash.

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As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Public Rights Project helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We do this by building their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convening and connecting them on issues of civil rights, and providing legal representation to governments to help them win in court on behalf of their residents. Since our founding, we’ve built a network of over 1,300 partners, including elected official

s and 227 government offices across all 50 states, and helped recover over $46 million in relief for marginalized people. www.publicrightsproject.org