PA Gov. Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Freeze

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Thursday challenging the ongoing freeze of federal funds despite multiple court orders to release them.

Shapiro contends that state agencies currently are unable to access $1.2 billion in federal money. Another $900 million requires an undefined review by federal agencies before it can be obtained. He asserted that the Constitution clearly states that federal agencies do not have the power to suspend states’ access to money that Congress appropriated or to impose new conditions on money already appropriated and obligated.

“The federal government has entered into a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, promising to provide billions of dollars in Congressionally-approved funding that we have committed to serious needs – like protecting public health, cutting energy costs, providing safe, clean drinking water, and creating jobs in rural communities,” Shapiro said in a statement. “With this funding freeze, the Trump administration is breaking that contract – and it’s my job as governor to protect Pennsylvania’s interests."

Shapiro asserted that the freeze has jeopardized federal funding for critical endeavors such as:

• Reducing consumer costs: Federal money already has been Congressionally allocated - but not disbursed - to help up to 28,000 Pennsylvania households lower their utility bills.

• Reclaiming abandoned mine land: Currently frozen abandoned mine land dollars would allow the state to reclaim 24,000 acres of abandoned mine land across Pennsylvania, construct or maintain 16 water treatment systems that deal with toxic runoff from abandoned mines, and respond to about 60 emergency events per year.

• Capping and plugging orphan wells: The withheld federal money would help plug more than 500 orphaned and abandoned wells that are releasing toxic chemicals in communities across the state.

Shapiro said he and his aides have spent the past two weeks working with the state's Congressional delegation to try to restore access to the federal money promised to Pennsylvania under the law. But state agencies still are unable to draw down the dollars despite those efforts.

"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," Shapiro said.

See the entire lawsuit here.