Nevada AG Ford, 22 other states file lawsuit to stop federal funding freeze

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is joining 22 other attorneys general to sue to stop the Trump administration from putting a freeze on federal funding.

A federal judge paused the freeze just before it was going to take effect at 5:00 pm Tuesday, January 28. It is now on hold until Monday.

The Office of Management and Budget ordered all federal agencies to indefinitely pause grants and loans to see if any programs that the administration deems to violate any of President Trump’s newly signed executive orders.

Ford and the coalition of attorneys general argue a funding freeze would jeopardize much-needed resources nationwide.

“As I have stated previously, President Trump won the 2024 election and has the right to enact his policies within the bounds of the law,” said AG Ford. “I have also said, however, that when he violates the Constitution or law, I will take any legal steps necessary to protect Nevadans. My office has already stepped forward once to fight back against an unconstitutional executive order, and today I have unfortunately had to do so again. Presidents are elected leaders, and the rule of law bounds their actions. President Trump must respect this. When he does not, I’ll defeat him in court.”

The police would have paused support for Department of Justice initiatives to investigate hate crimes and violence against women. Ford’s office recently launched a hate crime hotline but it is unclear if the program is federally funded or would be impacted.

The group of attorneys general says the president cannot override spending laws. They add that it is also unconstitutional to exceed Congress’s power to decide how federal funds are spent.

This is a developing story.

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