Seattle Lawsuit Against Trump Expands As Eight Governments Join Challenge

Eight additional city and county governments have joined Seattle’s federal lawsuit challenging a series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, significantly expanding a case that argues the administration is unlawfully restricting access to federal funding based on policies related to gender identity and diversity initiatives.

The lawsuit, originally filed by the City of Seattle in July 2025, contends that the executive orders impose unconstitutional conditions on federal grants by requiring local governments to comply with vague and politically driven standards or risk losing critical funding.

New plaintiffs include the cities of Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Durham, North Carolina; and Portland, Oregon, along with Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota, Prince George’s County in Maryland and Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. The amended complaint was filed Monday in federal court.

“We fight back with urgency and courage when anyone tries to intimidate us for standing up for our values and our laws,” said Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans. “Leadership requires strong partnerships and teamwork. Seattle is proud to help steer the nation back toward virtue and a federal government that abides by its laws. These nine cities and counties are fighting together to uphold the shared Constitutional values that have guided the American system of government for 250 years. I hope other cities join with us.”

At the center of the lawsuit are two executive orders issued during the early days of Trump’s second term. One targets diversity, equity and inclusion programs, while the other seeks to restrict federal funding tied to what the administration describes as “gender ideology.”

According to the amended complaint, the orders attempt to impose new conditions on federally funded programs that are not authorized by Congress, raising constitutional concerns about the separation of powers and federal spending authority. The filing argues that only Congress has the authority to determine how federal funds are allocated and that executive orders cannot override those decisions.

Local governments involved in the lawsuit say the orders place them in an untenable position: comply with unclear and potentially unlawful requirements or risk losing millions of dollars in federal funding used to support essential services, including public safety, housing, transportation and health programs.

“The Trump administration’s attempt to add additional strings to grant funding isn’t just cumbersome, it’s illegal,” said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. “Congress—not the president—decides how funds are spent. That’s government 101. We’re urging the Court to side with cities to ensure these funds will continue to flow. Without them, the City will be unable to fully fund critical programs that feed our kids, provide job opportunities to our residents, and protect the environment.”

The complaint further argues that the executive orders rely on vague and undefined terms, particularly around diversity initiatives and gender-related policies, creating confusion for grant recipients and exposing them to potential penalties or loss of funding even when complying with existing federal law.

Seattle previously secured a preliminary injunction in the case, with a U.S. District Court finding that the executive orders effectively attempted to rewrite federal law without congressional approval. The ruling blocked federal agencies from imposing new funding conditions or revoking grants based on the challenged provisions.

The newly filed amendment seeks to extend those protections to the additional jurisdictions now joining the lawsuit, as cities and counties across the country continue to push back against what they describe as federal overreach.