Shapiro, Beshear Sue Trump Admin Over Suspending Fed Grants

Pennsylvania Gov. 👤Josh Shapiro(D) is suing the Trump administration over suspended grant funds.

The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday, revealed Pennsylvania agencies still have more than $1.2 billion in grant funding out of reach and another $900 million in grants that are marked as requiring further review, per The Hill.

“Governor 👤Josh Shapiro and members of Pennsylvania’s agencies have been working with federal partners and legislators to try to fully restore access to these funds,” according to the complaint.

“Despite that work, and despite two temporary restraining orders requiring federal agencies to restore access to suspended funds, federal agencies continue to deny Pennsylvania agencies funding that they are entitled to receive,” the complaint continued.

Two judges temporarily blocked the Trump administration from implementing an across-the-board funding freeze.

Those rulings were the result of lawsuits separately brought by Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and a group of private organizations.

Shapiro’s lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

This is the third lawsuit regarding the funding freeze.

Earlier on Thursday, Kentucky Gov. 👤Andy Beshear (D) joined the lawsuit from the attorneys general.

Both Pennsylvania and Kentucky have Republican attorneys general and have not been a part of that lawsuit.

“Over two weeks ago, the Trump Administration issued a directive freezing federal dollars that were legally appropriated by Congress to states,” Shapiro said.

“That funding is committed to serious needs, like reclaiming abandoned minelands to prevent sinkholes, plugging orphaned and abandoned wells, helping lower consumers’ utility bills, and more,” Shapiro added.