100 Ways in 100 Days: How States are Defending the Rule of Law in the New Trump Administration

1. Nineteen state attorneys general sued to stop President Trump’s executive order that seeks unlawful control of election administration. Attorneys general from Nevada and California led the coalition, arguing that the president’s order calls for changes he has no authority to make—because elections are run and regulated by Congress and the states.

2. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar called the president’s attempt to overhaul election administration “an attack on the integrity of our election system.” “It is, to put it bluntly, an illegal power grab that would have disastrous consequences for America’s voters,” he wrote at MSNBC.

3. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber told The Sacramento Bee the president’s executive order amounts to “interference into state election processes.” She called it “unprecedented and reckless.”

4. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told Denver-based FOX31 that “Trump’s executive order is unlawful.” She said: “The United States has always led the world in conducting free and fair elections, and we cannot let Donald Trump end that legacy.”

5. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes called the president’s elections order “a disaster for our democracy.” He told Phoenix public radio KJZZ: “It is in my view an attempt to erode confidence so much that he will be able to declare some kind of emergency or something and potentially just cancel the elections in 2026.”

6. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said the president’s elections order “disregards the U.S. Constitution.” He said: “It attempts a federal takeover of state and locally administered election systems—in part by threatening states with an unlawful cutoff of funding. Minnesotans trust our elections because of our common-sense balance of security and accessibility… This executive order would undermine the balance of security and accessibility and erode the freedom to vote for millions of eligible Americans.”

7. Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas called the president’s elections order “an unconstitutional overreach of federal authority” and “an attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters and weaken our elections systems.” She said: “I’m glad to be working with our attorneys general to protect both states’ rights and the right to vote.”

8. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin told Insider NJ that Trump’s attempt to dictate election rules “undermines states’ rights to set the laws that govern our elections” and joined the lawsuit challenging it. He called the executive order “a blatant attack on the constitutional rights of New Jerseyans.”

9. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the elections order “is about Donald Trump trying to pick and choose who gets to vote in this country, and that is not what democracy means.” Joining the multi-state lawsuit, he called the order “a lawless attempt to suppress and manipulate free and fair elections across the United States, from an unhinged aspiring dictator still seeking to rewrite history to erase his defeat more than four years ago.”

10. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sued to stop the president’s executive order and called it “unconstitutional and undemocratic.” She said it “disrupts elections in our state, undermining the electoral process for millions of Michigan voters.”

11. Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson wrote in Bloomberg that the elections executive order “has the potential to create numerous unfunded mandates” and “the possibility of creating other unintended consequences.” Grayson argued that “most people agree that we need to ensure only US citizens vote, but many fail to consider the second-order effects of less-targeted policies aimed at doing so.” The column points out that noncitizen voting is historically rare and calls for a reexamination of how states use data and leverage federal assistance to determine a voter’s citizenship.

12. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said: “We will not blindly follow illegal orders because Donald Trump wrote them down on a piece of paper.” Pritzker said: “Illinois follows the laws of the land—not the decrees of an aspiring king hell bent on disenfranchising millions of voters who deserve to have their voice heard.”

13. Twenty-three states sued the Trump Administration for terminating nearly $11 billion in public health grants to the states. The lawsuit, filed against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., argues that the cuts were made with no legal authority or explanation, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said: “This massive and egregiously irresponsible cut of public health funding should put everyone on high alert to the depths this Administration is willing to go.” “First and foremost, Americans expect their government to protect them from harm. By eliminating billions in critical funding for essential public health initiatives, the Administration is effectively telling the American people to fend for themselves.”

14. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers slammed the administration’s plans to recklessly cut millions in already approved federal funding that the state expected to receive. Evers said: “Making sure Wisconsinites can get the care they need when they need it has always been a top priority for me, and I will be exploring every legal option available to us to fight against these disastrous cuts to our state.” The funding was designated to help support mental and behavioral health services, prevent and respond to substance misuse and the opioid epidemic, bolster local public health, and strengthen local emergency medical services.

15. Nevada Attorney General Ford sued on behalf of Nevadans, saying the abrupt termination of billions in public health grants jeopardized approximately $35 million in public health services for state residents. As part of the coalition bringing the lawsuit to block the cuts, Ford said: “This action displays a complete indifference to the lives of Nevadans, and I am confident that we will prevail in court to stop this unlawful and destructive decision.”

16. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear opposed the $11 billion in health funding cuts made by the Department of Health and Human Services and joined the lawsuit challenging them. Beshear said: “It’s an unlawful cancellation, and we’ll challenge it,” he said. “These are contracts that we have. The contracts can only be terminated for cause, which means somebody did something wrong, and they’re trying to define cause as: ‘The pandemic’s over.’ That’s not a legal argument, and if we have to go to court, we will.”

17. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined the lawsuit to block $11 billion in federal cuts to public health grant programs and spoke of their impact on his state. Shapiro said: “The federal government broke its half billion-dollar contract with the Commonwealth and, as a result of this unlawful action, is undermining our ability to protect the health of Pennsylvania’s children and families…It is my job to defend the taxpayers of this Commonwealth, and this is funding owed to the people of Pennsylvania. But the Trump Administration abruptly canceled Congressionally-appropriated federal funding that supports critical Pennsylvania-based initiatives like infectious disease prevention, long-term care for our seniors, and immunizations for children.”

18. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined a lawsuit challenging $11 billion in health funding cuts by the Department of Health and Human Services, including more than $230 million in cuts to funding for his state. Jackson said: “My job is to be a shield for the people of North Carolina—and that includes protecting their health care. The federal government can’t just cancel nearly a quarter billion dollars that have already been congressionally allocated to our state. It’s unlawful – and dangerous. That money supports rural hospitals, healthcare workers, emergency services, and public health programs that protect seniors and families across North Carolina. There are legal ways to improve how tax dollars are used, but this wasn’t one of them. Immediately halting critical health care programs across the state without legal authority isn’t just wrong—it puts lives at risk. That’s why we’re going to court.”

19. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, in working to enforce court action over funding, highlighted the state impacts of the Trump Administration’s repeated failure to release federal funds, as ordered by the courts. Joining a coalition in filing for a second motion for enforcement, Kaul said: “The Trump administration must follow the law and comply with court orders. Its continued failure to do so in this case is not only a serious concern—it also means that funds to prepare for and respond to emergencies are being blocked, putting people’s safety and security at risk.”

20. Twenty-one attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump Administration from dismantling the federal Department of Education. The lawsuit followed the announcement that 50 percent of the agency’s workforce would be laid off as part of a goal to shut down the department. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said: “It will devastate red states and blue states alike—and it’s illegal. We’re suing to stop it.” The Delaware AG said the Department is authorized by Congress, with numerous different laws creating its various programs and funding streams, and the Executive Branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally incapacitate or dismantle it.

21. Eight states filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for unlawfully canceling grants that support K-12 teacher development, student achievement, and the creation of a new teacher pipeline. The lawsuit argued that the ED violated the Administrative Procedure Act by unilaterally canceling millions of dollars in funding for programs that were authorized by Congress.

22. A coalition of 19 states sued the Trump Administration over its threat to withhold funding from states and districts with certain diversity programs in public schools. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said: “Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are legal efforts that help students feel safe, supported and respected. The Trump administration’s threats to withhold critical education funding due to the use of these initiatives are not only unlawful, but harmful to our children, families, and schools.”

23. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “President Trump’s directive to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education is unconscionable and unconstitutional.” He added: “Simply put, the Trump Administration is going out of its way to create chaos and raise costs for our nation’s families.” “New Jersey is proud of its best-in-the-nation public school system and we will do everything we can to restore this funding and maintain our reputation for excellence in public education.”

24. Maine Governor Janet Mills challenged President Trump’s threat to withhold funding from the state over alleged Title IX violations. Mills said: “No President— Republican or Democrat—can withhold Federal funding authorized and appropriated by Congress and paid for by Maine taxpayers in an attempt to coerce someone into compliance with his will. It is a violation of our Constitution and of our laws, which I took an oath to uphold.”

25. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the Trump Administration’s effort to shut down the Education Department “another illegal attempt by Donald Trump to unilaterally strip essential services from millions of students.” Suing on behalf of Michigan, Nessel said: “The administration’s reckless move not only jeopardizes Michigan’s students but is blatantly unconstitutional.”

26. Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education challenging cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. He wrote: “Congress directs the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to pass these federal investments onto states so local leaders can plan and make decisions that are best for our communities. Threats to this funding without backing in law or established requirements put key programs at risk that students and schools depend on every day.”

27. New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 14 state attorneys general in issuing guidance to K-12 schools, colleges, and universities that the administration cannot render DEI programs illegal through an executive order or “Dear Colleague” letter. The guidance states that “nothing in the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter or FAQ changes existing law and well-established legal principles that encourage—and even require—schools to promote educational opportunity for students of all backgrounds.”

28. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said: “The President’s unconstitutional attacks on education will upend the lives of children in Rhode Island and across the country.” Joining the lawsuit challenging the threat to withhold federal funding from state and local agencies that promote equal access to education in K-12 classrooms, Neronha said: “By conditioning this funding in an illegal and thoughtless way, the Administration will cause irreversible harm to children in our state. This attack is unacceptable, and we will do everything we can to stop it.”

29. Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders and Attorney General Charity Clark issued a joint statement challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s order to end DEI programs. Saunders said: “It is critical to be calm, confident, and clear eyed about the difference between lawful education initiatives and political rhetoric…none of President Trump’s executive orders are legally binding related to instruction in Vermont classrooms.” Clark said: “A change in administration in Washington doesn’t change Vermont’s sovereign right to educate its children consistent with the laws.”

30. Illinois State Board of Education rebuked the U.S. Department of Education’s order to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion practices. It said: “Illinois will never waver in its commitment to helping every child from every community, background, socioeconomic status, gender, and race—which is consistent with federal and state laws and our values.”

31. The New York State Education Department challenged the administration’s threat to pull funding from schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The state agency wrote in a letter: “there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI… USDOE is entitled to make whatever policy pronouncements it wants—but cannot conflate policy with law.”

32. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Education Department “reckless” and “illegal.” Joining the lawsuit seeking to stop the administration from breaking up the department, she said: “The Department of Education was established by Congress, and it is Congress alone that has the authority to eliminate it.” “The Trump administration’s reckless and unilateral attempt to dismantle this critical agency is illegal and will harm students and families—particularly rural students and students with disabilities.”

33. California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined other state attorneys general in a lawsuit to block the administration’s firing of Education Department employees. Bonta said: “Dismantling the Department of Education from within would have catastrophic consequences—and like many of the Trump Administration’s actions since taking office, is blatantly illegal. It shouldn’t be too much to ask for a President to follow the law, but for the eighth time in as many weeks, we’ll see him in court.”

34. Delaware Governor Matt Meyer denounced the Trump executive order dismantling the Department of Education. He said: “We will stand up, push back, and demand every dollar our students deserve.” He also said: “We’re used to having a partner, whether Democrat or Republican, in Washington who’s going to work with us—who’s going to work with us honestly to benefit kids… And what I’m realizing as a new governor, someone who legitimately wants to work with Washington, is that we’re probably on our own with respect to Washington.”

35. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the president’s executive order seeking to close the Department of Education. Newsom said: “This overreach needs to be rejected immediately by a co-equal branch of government. Or was Congress eliminated by this executive order, too?”

36. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vowed to push back on the Trump Administration’s attempts to shut down the Education Department. “I will fight every effort by President Trump and his administration to mess with our schools, our kids, and their futures, especially when he doesn’t have the power to do what he’s trying to do, like trying to unilaterally obliterate an agency Congress created,” Evers said. “I continue to urge Congressional Republicans to stand up to efforts to undermine our constitutional checks and balances and stop these reckless attacks on our kids, our schools, our communities, and our state.”

37. Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal called the U.S. Department of Education’s effort to erase diversity, equity, and inclusion programs an “attack against the rights of states to have civil rights frameworks that exceed the federal minimum standards.” Reykdal said: “We will not sign additional certifications that lack authority, lack clarity, or are an assault on the autonomy of states and local school districts by misapplying a higher education admissions case. It would be irresponsible to do so.”

38. A coalition of 22 state attorneys general sued the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), challenging the January 27th directive to pause federal funding. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, one of the state attorneys suing to stop implementation, said: “All Marylanders would be affected by this unconstitutional pause on federal funding, but those who would bear the brunt of the damage are our most vulnerable and marginalized neighbors who rely on these resources to pay for early childhood education, health care, and housing.”

39. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul called the Trump Administration’s freeze on federal funding “unconstitutional,” and joined a lawsuit challenging it. Raoul said: “Let’s be clear, January 20th was an inauguration, not a coronation. Congress is given the power to appropriate the funding. The executive branch cannot unilaterally disregard those appropriations passed by a separate and equal house of government. We will collectively fight this unconstitutional mandate.”

40. Colorado Governor Jared Polis stood up for the courts, praising the system for protecting the American people and upholding the rule of law when it issued a preliminary injunction barring the Trump Administration’s illegal efforts to freeze federal funds. Governor Polis said: “This court decision will ensure states have access to important funding for disaster relief, transportation, childcare and family support, veterans, and initiatives. In Colorado, we are committed to protecting freedoms, saving people money, and building a Colorado for all.”

41. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont praised a federal court order temporarily prohibiting a freeze on funds approved by Congress. Lamont said: “This temporary court order is the right decision against an unprecedented, disorganized, and chaotic move to unilaterally cut off funding for healthcare, housing, road and bridge repairs, and so much more. I appreciate Attorney General Tong and the coalition of states that are fighting in court to ensure that the funds appropriated by Congress are delivered as intended under the law.”

42. A coalition of 20 state attorneys general sued the Trump Administration to halt the agency dismantling and staffing cuts for libraries, museums, small businesses, and public sector workers. The lawsuit seeks to block an executive order that attempts to dismantle three federal agencies created by Congress and illegally overrides laws on federal spending. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said: “From the Berkshires to Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to some of the best public libraries and museums in the country that employ residents, provide educational opportunities and resources, and drive our creative economy” but that “we once again have to hold the Trump Administration accountable for unlawful actions directed at our economy and cultural institutions.”

43. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, a lead plaintiff in the suit to block the dismantling of agencies supporting libraries, museums, small businesses, and public sector workers, said: “By unlawfully attacking these agencies, they are attempting to stifle the American dream. We won’t let them, and neither should you.”

44. Fourteen state attorneys general sued the Trump Administration over the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Led by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, the lawsuit argues that the actions of “a single unelected and unconfirmed individual” violate the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures that executive appointments are subject to congressional oversight and Senate confirmation. Torrez said: “Allowing one individual to flout the law without consequence threatens our entire constitutional system. We cannot allow our democratic processes to be hijacked by immense wealth and privilege.”

45. Nineteen state attorneys general sued President Trump and the Treasury Department to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing a federal payments database. The attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argued that granting DOGE access to the system could interfere with funding for states that was already allocated by Congress.

46. Twelve states filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the four executive orders President Trump signed on tariffs. The lawsuit argues that the president does not have the constitutional authority to invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and issue the tariffs without Congressional approval. Filed in the United States Court of International Trade, it says the tariffs violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.

47. Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford said the president’s tariffs are “a monumental overstep, and we’re suing to address it.” As part of the coalition of 12 attorneys general that filed the lawsuit to block the tariffs, Ford said: “The president has certain authority to impose tariffs, but the approach he has taken is not only unlawful but also completely disrupts both the global economy and the day-to-day lives of Nevadans trying to make ends meet.”

48. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield called the tariffs “an unlawful policy” and said, “we have a responsibility to push back.” Rayfield, who co-led the multi-state lawsuit entitled State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., said “These tariffs hit every corner of our lives—from the checkout line to the doctor’s office” and “we don’t have the luxury of standing by—especially when so many Oregonians live on fixed incomes.”

49. Attorney General Kris Mayes said: “President Trump’s insane tariff scheme is not only economically reckless—it is illegal.” Co-leading the lawsuit challenging four of President Trump’s executive orders that claim the power to increase tariffs, Mayes said: “As Arizona’s chief law enforcement officer, I will not stand by while President Trump jeopardizes Arizona’s economy.”

50. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly highlighted the impact of new tariffs on her state’s farmers and agriculture industry, saying: “Americans did not vote for this chaos. It’s not what they want or need from their leaders.” Kelly said: “As the governor of Kansas, a state whose farmers feed the nation and the world, the imposition of tariffs without consideration of the immediate and devastating impact on our agricultural industry and others is unacceptable.”

51. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta sued to stop the president’s tariffs. The suit says the “President’s use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) to enact tariffs is unlawful and unprecedented.”

52. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly told the The Topeka Capital-Journal “we need to push back” when the president makes proposals that aren’t in the best interest of the states. She said: “I’m very concerned about what’s going on in a number of agencies on a federal level, where access to individuals’ private personal information is being made accessible to people with no security clearance and no accountability.”

53. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz highlighted the president’s executive overreach in his first 100 days. He said: “When the President took office three months ago, there was no reason for him to throw a wrench into the works… This isn’t servant leadership. It’s not any kind of leadership at all. It’s small. It’s weak. It’s petty. It takes the awesome power of the federal government and turns it into a crude weapon, wielded by a man who wants to be a king.”

54. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey emphasized the limits of executive authority. She said: “Congress makes the laws. I may not agree with everything Congress does, but that’s a democracy. That’s how our system works. Congress makes the laws. The judiciary enforces the laws and determines the application of the law. And the executive, and I’m an executive, my job is to faithfully apply and execute the law. And so, that’s a problem. He doesn’t believe that Congress makes the law. He believes that he makes the law. That’s what he said.”

55. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said that Trump “was elected president, but no one put a crown on this guy’s head.” She said: “We have three branches of government… He thinks there’s one. We have separation of powers. He thinks there is none.”

56. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson told Raleigh’s ABC11 that executive orders from the administration “have to comply with the law.”

57. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell spoke about the importance of standing up for “the very things that we say we take for granted—our constitutional society.” She said: “If we allow a president or an administration to continue to just chip away, chip away, chip away, and to turn that dial more and more where suddenly laws mean nothing, the constitution means absolutely nothing, there’s no checks and balances system.”

58. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker blocked January 6 rioters from being employed by his state. He said: “These rioters attacked law enforcement officers protecting people in the Capitol, disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, and undermined bedrock principles of American democracy.”

59. Maryland Governor Wes Moore called on the administration to facilitate the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling, he said: “I will not stand idly by as this administration disappears Americans to foreign prisons.”

60. A coalition of 18 states sued the Trump Administration over an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, arguing it violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Joined by the city of San Franciso and Washington, D.C., they filed in Federal District Court in Massachusetts.

61. State attorneys general in Washington, Arizona, Oregon, and Illinois filed a similar lawsuit challenging the executive order to end birthright citizenship in Washington federal court.

62. Hawai‘i Attorney General Anne Lopez praised the preliminary injunction against the executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. She said: “President Trump may believe that he is above the law, but today’s preliminary injunction sends a clear message: He is not a king, and he cannot rewrite the Constitution with the stroke of a pen.”

63. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, when he sued over it, called the president’s executive order to end birthright citizenship “not only unconstitutional…but simply un-American.” He said: “I want Washingtonians to know we will do everything in our power to defend them and our state’s shared values against illegal acts by the Trump Administration.”

64. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison denounced the president’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, when he sued to stop it. He told Minnesota Public Radio: “we have to stand up for Americans’ rights. Birthright citizenship has been a part of American law since the 14th Amendment, which was established well over 100 years ago. And now that it’s being threatened, we have to stand up and defend it. I mean, the people are guardians of the law, guardians of our civil rights and liberties. We have to stand up and point out the proper precedence to the court.”

65. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel cautioned against normalizing the unlawful actions of the new administration. Nessel said, “this is not a normal presidency and if we’ve learned nothing from just these last several weeks, it’s that there’s no law that Trump will not break. There’s no constitutional right upon which he will not trample.”

66. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser criticized the targeting of lawful permanent residents and student visa holders for deportation. He said: “We won’t tolerate people being picked up without any process and shipped to some other country with no recourse…The First Amendment matters, because when you speak, and you speak your truth, you cannot be—in this country—retaliated against for speaking your truth.”

67. Maine Governor Janet Mills condemned the Trump Administration’s “campaign to pressure the State of Maine to ignore the Constitution and abandon the rule of law.” She said: “For decades—first as a District Attorney, as Attorney General, and now as Governor—I have fought tirelessly for the rights of women and girls, for the health and well-being of children and families, and defending the Constitution of Maine and the Constitution of the United States. My Administration and Maine’s Attorney General will vigorously defend our state against the action announced today from the Department of Justice. As I have said previously, this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot.”

68. Former Montana Governor Marc Racicot expressed “concern and anxiety about the Constitution of the United States being subject to manipulation.” In an interview with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, he said: “They’re violating the laws of Congress and while Congress sits there on its thumbs…These violations of the law, the refusal and rejection of the requirements that are in place for the courts, the encroachment upon the judicial branch, all of those issues that we’ve seen develop over the last 2 1/2 months lead me to conclude that we’re in danger of finding our democracy in grave need of protection.”

69. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield launched a Federal Oversight online tool to show how the state is “working to defend the rule of law. The tool “provides the public with real-time access to information about Oregon’s legal efforts to block unlawful actions by the Trump administration that threaten Constitutional rights and funding for health, education, federal agencies and more.”

70. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called Trump’s spending cuts “very dangerous” and asserted that “this is a country of the rule of law.” McKee told the Providence Journal: “The court seems to be the best option for us right now about executive orders, changing the Constitution through executive orders, thinking that you’re going to take away important funding from nonprofits and others.” He added: “when you let criminals go at a thousand … and then you try to basically push back against the very people that are standing up for the rule of law, yeah, we’ve got concerns here.”

71. Twenty-one states sued the Trump Administration to stop mass federal employee firings under Schedule F. Responding to Trump’s executive order reclassified federal workers to make dismissal easier, a coalition filed suit to block the terminations. The lawsuit challenges mass firings across 21 federal agencies. States argue the action undermines the merit-based civil service system and threatens essential public services.

72. A coalition of 20 state attorneys general challenged the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and called for the reinstatement of those who had been fired. Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford called the mass firings “unlawful” and warned they “will leave Nevadans unemployed and strain our state’s resources and finances in the aftermath.” When a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) for over a dozen federal agencies, Ford said: “These mass firings reflect a disregard for both the law and the essential role of the civil service in maintaining government stability. Our office is committed to upholding the rule of law and will take every necessary legal step to ensure compliance with this court order.”

73. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said the administration’s firings of federal probationary workers “basically ignored the law and hurt people across the board in ways that make our residents less safe.” He said: “They need to follow the laws that are put in place for large scale reductions in force so that we don’t make mistakes, like inadvertently firing people who regulate our nuclear arsenal, or people who ensure that planes can land on time, or people who provide health care or protect our public health or veterans, which he’s fired thousands of them, people who served this country and who have been fired indiscriminately, who are performing really critical roles.”

74. Nevada moved to support dismissed federal employees. After President Trump reclassified some federal employees for easier dismissal, by reinstating and expanding Schedule F, Nevada lawmakers acted. The Assembly Government Affairs Committee advanced AB547, requiring state agencies to recognize relevant federal work experience to help former federal workers transition into Nevada state jobs. Governor Joe Lombardo’s office stated that “Federal employees in transition are encouraged to apply for state employment, where they can continue their service to our state and country.”

75. North Carolina welcomed displaced federal workers in response to Trump’s order reclassifying federal employees for easier dismissal. Following Trump’s executive order, Governor Josh Stein issued a public statement inviting affected public servants to apply for state jobs. He praised their talent and dedication, emphasizing North Carolina as a refuge for experienced workers forced out under the new federal policy. Stein said: “Public servants help make our state everything that it is.”

76. Hawai‘i launched “Operation Hire Hawai‘i” to support displaced federal workers. Responding to Trump’s firing of federal employees, Governor Josh Green announced an initiative to recruit affected workers into Hawai‘i’s public workforce. “Operation Hire Hawai‘i” aims to strengthen state agencies by hiring experienced public servants. Green said: “I’m fighting to make sure people who lose their jobs can get a job through Operation Hire Hawai’i.”

77. New York launched the “You’re Hired” initiative to recruit federal workers dismissed by DOGE. Responding to the Department of Government Efficiency firing of federal workers, Governor Kathy Hochul started an effort to attract displaced public servants to its state workforce, emphasizing the state’s appreciation for public service. Hochul said: “We don’t vilify public servants… We value you. We want to welcome you to the New York family.”

78. Maryland expanded hiring efforts to support federal workers dismissed under Trump’s mass layoffs. Governor Wes Moore announced initiatives to recruit displaced federal employees into Maryland’s public sector, addressing widespread vacancies in state agencies. He also urged private and nonprofit employers to consider hiring affected workers.

79. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown condemned Trump’s mass federal firings as an attack on public service and the state’s economy. In response to the Trump Administration’s dismissal of thousands of federal employees, Attorney General Brown emphasized the detrimental impact on Maryland’s economy, noting that approximately 10% of households in the state rely on federal wages.

80. A coalition of 21 state attorneys general filed amicus briefs challenging executive orders that impose sanctions on law firms doing work disfavored by the administration. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said of the filings: “It is downright authoritarian for Donald Trump to retaliate against lawyers and law firms that challenge his unconstitutional executive orders and his illegal actions.”

81. Attorneys General in 21 states issued an open letter to the legal community condemning President Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms and the legal community. The AGs write that, “In addition to undermining the business, practice, and system of law, President Trump’s orders are unconstitutional on their face.”

82. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said: “There is an undemocratic administration in power.” She said: “The actions of the Trump administration in the last three weeks can only be described as dictatorial and authoritarian. Every day— nearly every hour—there is some new action or executive order that makes a mockery of the rule of law and the Constitution itself … The independent judiciary acts as a check on executive overreach. In the United States, we appeal rulings we disagree with—we don’t ignore court orders or threaten judges with impeachment when a ruling goes the way we don’t like.”

83. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the Trump Administration’s growing attacks on the judiciary display a “total disregard for our constitution and for our systems that create those checks and balances.”

84. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul spoke to Wisconsin Public Radio about the legal challenges his state is bringing against the Trump Administration. Kaul said: “for those of us who care deeply about the Constitution and the rule of law, we are facing a major challenge right now….One of the really troubling things we’ve seen from the Trump administration in a number of cases is the argument that when they are executing the laws that they’re basically constitutionally entitled to ignore what Congress has done.” He added: “The other thing we’re seeing that’s very concerning is disregard for court orders, at least in public statements from the Trump administration.”

85. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong criticized the president for not complying with the court order to unfreeze federal funding. He said: “He is defying the rule of law and daring courts to stop him.”

86. A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed an amicus brief opposing President Trump’s dismissal of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox, a move that effectively incapacitated the board. Wilcox’s dismissal came during the middle of her five-year appointment, leaving just two members remaining on the five-member board. The amici states argue that a functioning NLRB is necessary for the enforcement of labor laws across the United States and urge the court to order the defendants to allow Wilcox to continue performing her responsibilities as an NLRB member.

87. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser led a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in supporting two commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission who challenged the illegal decision by President Trump to fire them without cause. Leading a coalition in filing an amicus brief, Weiser said: “The independent, expert, bipartisan makeup of the Federal Trade Commission has been a hallmark of the agency and a key reason why it’s been effective at protecting consumers and ensuring a fair marketplace.” “My fellow attorneys general and I are supporting this lawsuit because we want to ensure the states’ bipartisan partnership with the FTC continues, and that starts with the court ruling that the president’s attempt to fire the commissioners was unlawful.”

88. A coalition of 23 state attorneys general challenged the Trump Administration’s efforts to upend consumer protections and dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In two amicus briefs, the coalition argues that the administration’s efforts to destroy the CFPB could harm consumers and state efforts to protect them from issues of fraud or deception. California Attorney General Bonta said: “The Trump Administration’s takeover of the CFPB is an effort to destroy the federal agency responsible for protecting American families from being exploited by big banks and payday lenders. Eliminating the only federal agency with oversight over big banks puts everyday consumers at higher risk for financial losses, and places higher demands on states like California.”

89. A coalition of 19 state attorneys general called upon the Senate Judiciary Committee to require President Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, to submit to further questioning after reports emerged of a planned purge of FBI agents and staff. The attorneys general wrote in a letter to Senate leaders that it was critical for Patel to address allegations of politically motivated, retaliatory firings at the FBI. New York Attorney General Letitia James said: “This effort to defund the FBI to fulfill a political vendetta puts the American people at risk. The FBI is critical to keeping Americans safe from violent crime, terrorism, and threats to our democracy.”

90. Four states sued to block Trump’s executive order that seeks to regulate and criminalize medical practices in the states. Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, and Colorado challenged the constitutionality of an order that halts federal funding to medical institutions for providing gender-affirming care, and attempts to overrule congressional intent. Colorado Attorney General Dan Rayfield said: “This is a clear example of federal overreach. Banning funding involving gender-affirming care is an infringement on individual rights, and it denies people the dignity and healthcare they deserve.”

91. Fifteen state attorneys general defended their ability to set and enforce state laws protecting health care access. The coalition condemned President Trump’s executive order that seeks to halt federal funding for institutions providing gender-affirming care, saying: “The Trump administration’s recent executive order is wrong on the science and the law.” They said: “As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of health care policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people… State attorneys general will continue to enforce state laws that provide access to gender-affirming care, in states where such enforcement authority exists, and we will challenge any unlawful effort by the Trump administration to restrict access to it in our jurisdictions.”

92. Maine sued the administration for “illegally withholding grant funds that go to keeping children fed.” In response to the administration’s freeze of federal nutrition funds for Maine’s allowance of transgender girls in school sports, the state filed suit challenging the halt. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said that Trump Administration officials “do not make the law and they are not above the law, and this action is necessary to remind the president that Maine will not be bullied into violating the law.”

93. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, co-chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance, pushed back on President Trump’s executive order targeting states’ authority to set their own climate goals. They said: “The federal government cannot unilaterally strip states’ independent constitutional authority. We are a nation of states—and laws—and we will not be deterred. We will keep advancing solutions to the climate crisis that safeguard Americans’ fundamental right to clean air and water, create good-paying jobs, grow the clean energy economy, and make our future healthier and safer.”

94. Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson criticized the president’s threat to withhold all federal funding from states where cities assert their authority to set local law enforcement priorities that diverge from federal immigration enforcement priorities. Ferguson said: “Donald Trump has shown he does not care about the law. My team and I are working closely with the Attorney General’s Office to defend our state from unlawful federal actions. I am not going to allow the federal government to arbitrarily and unlawfully withhold funds that support individuals on Medicaid, our education system, child welfare, emergency relief and so much more.”

95. A coalition of 20 state attorneys general sent a comment letter to the Council on Environmental Quality calling the Trump Administration’s repeal of environmental regulations “unlawful,” and urged them to change course. The state attorneys general argue that the repeal violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Endangered Species Act, and will create uncertainty which will delay project approvals, reduce public participation, and lead to less-informed environmental decisions.

96. After Congress proposed the largest Medicaid cut in history, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive instructing the state to compile a report identifying the impact of the proposed cuts on people’s health. She said: “Medicaid provides a lifeline to 2.6 million Michiganders, whether they need their annual physical or their third round of chemotherapy.” “Cuts to Medicaid could take health care away from 750,000 of our friends, neighbors, and families. That’s why I’m proud to support access to Medicaid in our state by signing this executive directive.”

97. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would limit the independence of state and local law enforcement from federal authorities. In rejecting a bill that would, in part, force Arizona schools to admit entry to federal immigration agents, Hobbs said: “I will continue to work with the federal government on true border security, but we should not force state and local officials to take marching orders from Washington, DC.” She said: “Arizonans, not Washington, DC politicians, must decide what’s best for Arizona.”

98. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called the Trump Administration’s directive that K-12 schools discontinue any DEI programs an “unwarranted and unlawful attempt to take away resources promised to Oregon students and paid for by the tax dollars we send to the federal government.” She said: “Since the start of the new federal administration, I promised Oregonians that I would not back down from a fight when it comes to safeguarding Oregon values. Making sure every child has the opportunity to meet their future promise with a strong public education is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government and one of my top priorities as Governor.”

99. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, when she sued to stop an order, said: “The Trump administration has tried to place unlawful conditions on federal funding for our schools” in threating states with equal access K-12 education programs. Clark said: “Today I sued to protect Vermont’s students, schools, and future…. Vermont has been and will continue to follow education laws, and I will continue to protect Vermonters against any unlawful actions by the federal government.”

100. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unconstitutional freeze of federal funding in order to “restore access to all the federal funding Pennsylvania has been promised under law.” Shapiro said: “While multiple federal judges have ordered the Trump Administration to unfreeze this funding, access has not been restored, leaving my Administration with no choice but to pursue legal action to protect the interests of the Commonwealth and its residents.”