Continuing the actions of his predecessor, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has taken swift action in response to Presidential Executive Orders which undermine the constitutional separation of powers and attack the democratic institutions of our federal government.
Governor Rob Ferguson, Washington State Attorney General during the first Trump administration, forged alliances with other attorneys general to rein in presidential overreach. Of ninety-seven lawsuits filed against the federal government, Attorney General Ferguson’s office lost only one.
Since January 20, 2025, the current Attorney General has joined with other state attorney generals in the following actions, many of which support the positions of the League of Women Voters:
- Seeking to block the freezing of congressionally approved federal funds to states (Preliminary Injunction granted March 6)
- Seeking to block the defunding of health research (Preliminary Injunction granted March 5)
- Seeking to block EOs targeting trans youth and gender-affirming care (Preliminary Injunction granted February 28)
- Seeking to block the targeting of trans military service members
- Seeking to halt the firing of probationary federal employees and to secure their reinstatement (Preliminary Injunction granted March 13)
- Challenging Elon Musk’s exercise of power
- Challenging the end to birthright citizenship (Preliminary injunction granted February6)
- Warning federal employees about the government’s buyout offer.
- Condemning US Attorney General Bondi’s character attacks on federal prosecutors
- Opposing changes to the passport application process for trans people
- Seeking to prevent the dismantling of the US Department of Education
- Supporting the Seattle law firm Perkins Coie and other law firms attacked by the President
- Opposing the repeal of NEPA regulations requiring environmental impact statements.
- Leading multi-state suit against US Department of Health and Human Services for terminating $11 billion in public health grants. (Temporary Restraining order granted to restore funding.) A further suit to block termination of other NIH grants was filed on April 4
- Challenging the illegal EO attacking elections and voting rights. States set the rules for elections, not the federal government.
- Suing to stop the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and the Minority Business Development Agency.
- Joining with nineteen state attorneys general to challenge the US Dept. of Education's move to condition federal funding to K-12 schools on abandoning programs promoting equal access to education, including for migrant, English-learner, low-income and disabled students.
- Participating in a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Executive Order dismantling Ameri-Corps, an independent federal agency providing opportunities for Americans to serve their communities.
- Joined suit contesting the Trump Administration's freezing of all wind energy developments.
- Joined suit versus RFK Jr. and Department of Health and Human Services to stop the dismantling of DHHS services.
- Pressed the Consumer Finance Protection Board to issue restitution previously awarded to victims of predatory sales program (Prehired, Inc.)
- Took the lead in suit to stop freeze of congressionally approved funds for electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Took the lead in suit challenging President's designation of an "energy emergency" lifting regulations and handing a free pass to oil companies to pollute.
- Joined suits versus US Dept. of Homeland Security and US Dept. of Transportation opposing the threat to withhold federal funding from states that do not assist ICE in immigration enforcement.
- Joined a bipartisan effort (40 state AGs) to voice opposition to an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill that imposes a 10 year ban on state regulation of artificial intelligence.
- May 16: Joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 state Attorney Generals opposing the "Big Beautiful Bill" provision banning states from enforcing laws or regulation of Artificial Intelligence.
- May 22: Coalition of 21 AGs win a court order stopping the dismantling of the US Department of Education.
- May 27: 21 AGs file an amicus brief in the 9th Circuit Appeals Court supporting the challenge to the Executive order suspending entry of refugees, and dismantling and defunding refugee resettlement agencies.
- May 28: A coalition of 16 AGs file suit challenging cuts to scientific research and STEM programs through the National Science Foundation.
- May 30: 20 AGs file brief to 9th Circuit arguing the military transgender ban undermines state and national security.
- June 5: Coalition of 24 AGs win a court order blocking the attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps.
- June 9: Washington AG takes the lead in a coalition of 18 AGs in amicus brief in a suit against the US Justice Department regarding the cancellation of funding to public safety programs such as violence prevention, crime victim support, and incarceration rehabilitation
- June 9: 16 AGs file suit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms over plans to distribute machine-gun conversion devices previously outlawed.
These actions include filing amicus briefs and submitting comments to proposed orders.
