60 local governments nationwide sue to stop Trump administration’s extreme attack on housing, transit and health funding

OAKLAND, CA — Sixty local governments across the country have joined a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to impose extreme political conditions on federal grants that would force local governments to adopt its political agenda or risk losing critical funding. 

The case, King County v. Turner now includes 29 newly added plaintiffs, bringing the total number to 60. It targets restrictions tied to grants administered by the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation (DOT), and, newly added, Health and Human Services (HHS).

The coalition is represented by Public Rights Project (PRP), and Pacifica Law Group, who 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 administration is demanding that local governments align with its policies on immigration enforcement; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; gender equity; and abortion access. Communities that refuse to accept these political conditions risk billions of dollars in federal funding, while compliance would force local officials to implement policies that harm the very communities they serve.

“Communities shouldn’t have to lose critical services because of the Trump administration’s political agenda,” said Jill Habig, founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “These federal funding conditions aim to strip billions of dollars from local governments working to help people thrive. Public Rights Project is proud to represent a growing coalition of cities and counties across the country that are fighting back against this unlawful abuse of power.”

The HHS grants at stake help plaintiffs protect the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities — supporting critical services like HIV prevention, child welfare, and pandemic preparedness. The amended complaint also expands the lawsuit’s scope to include all HUD grants, including large block grants that local governments rely on to provide affordable housing, support nutrition programs, fund home care for seniors, and address environmental hazards like lead paint. The case argues that these conditions are unconstitutional and exceed executive authority, as they fall outside the scope of what Congress authorized. 

In Ramsey County, Minn., for example, new federal restrictions jeopardize funding for critical programs, including affordable housing and maternal health services. Federal housing grants support the construction and rehabilitation of affordable homes, while health grants fund nurse home visits to nearly 400 families — improving maternal and child health, preventing abuse, and promoting school readiness. County officials warn that losing these funds could delay or cancel infrastructure projects, reduce public safety, and force cuts to other vital services. “There are no alternative funding sources that could replace federal support of this magnitude,” the County stated.

Since the lawsuit was first filed, the administration has introduced additional grant restrictions — this time tied to child welfare, health care access and civil rights enforcement programs. At stake is more than $12 billion in federal funding, including housing, transportation, and health care grants.

In June, a court issued a preliminary injunction 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.

The original plaintiffs are: 

• King County, Wash.
• Pierce County, Wash.
• Snohomish County, Wash.
• San Francisco County, Calif. 
• Santa Clara County, Calif. 
• Boston, Mass.
• Columbus, Ohio
• New York City, NY

An additional 52 local governments and agencies have joined through amended complaints. These plaintiffs include:

• Denver, Colo.
• Nashville-Davidson County, Tenn.
• Pima County, Ariz.
• Sonoma County, Calif.
• Bend, Ore.
• Cambridge, Mass.
• Chicago, Ill.
• Culver City, Calif.
• Minneapolis, Minn.
• Pasadena, Calif.
• Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Portland, Ore.
• San Jose, Calif.
• Santa Monica, Calif.
• Tucson, Ariz.
• Wilsonville, Ore.
• Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Wash.
• Intercity Transit, Wash.
• San Francisco County Transportation Authority, Calif.
• Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency, Calif.
• Port of Seattle, Wash.
• King County Regional Homelessness Authority, Wash.
• Santa Monica Housing Authority, Calif.
• Alameda County, Calif.
• Albuquerque, N.M.
• Baltimore, Md.
• Bellevue, Wash.
• Bellingham, Wash.
• Bremerton, Wash.
• Dane County, Wis.
• Eugene, Ore.
• Healdsburg, Calif.
• Hennepin County, Minn.
• Kitsap County, Wash.
• Los Angeles, Calif.
• Milwaukee, Wis.
• Milwaukee County, Wis.
• Multnomah County, Ore.
• Oakland, Calif.
• Pacifica, Calif.
• Petaluma, Calif.
• Ramsey County, Minn.
• Rochester, NY
• Rohnert Park, Calif.
• San Diego, Calif.
• San Mateo County, Calif.
• Santa Rosa, Calif.
• Watsonville, Calif.
• Culver City Housing Authority, Calif.
• Puget Sound Regional Council, Wash.
• Sonoma County Transportation Authority, Calif.

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