Infrastructure Improvements, Climate Initiatives, and Public Health Protections Under Threat 

Washington, D.C. – Several organizations representing local elected leaders and communities in vulnerable circumstances have told an appeals court how the Trump-Vance administration’s federal funding freeze on congressionally-appropriated funds for infrastructure projects has put vital community projects at risk. The friend of the court briefs were filed in Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council v. USDA, in support of plaintiffs by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and separately by the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Lakeside Tower Tenant Union, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, National Housing Law Project, Poverty and Race Research Action Council, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and Tenant Advocacy Clinic at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. 

Plaintiffs, represented by Democracy Forward and DeLuca, Weizenbaum, Barry & Revens, won preliminary relief in April, which has blocked implementation of the administration’s freeze on these funds while the case continues. The lawsuit was brought by Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, National Council of Nonprofits, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, Childhood Lead Action Project, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, and Green Infrastructure Center, challenging the administration’s unlawful suspension of funding. The court’s order is now being challenged by the government in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. 

“The breadth of trusted leaders reflected in these filings in favor of our clients is significant,” said Kevin Friedl, Senior Counsel for Democracy Forward. “The court was right in stopping the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful funding freeze because it directly threatened important projects across the nation that could not afford a delay in needed funds. The diversity of voices speaking out today is a clear sign of how widespread the harm would be if this unlawful funding freeze were allowed to go back into effect.” 

The case argues that the funding freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act, disrupting vital community-led projects, putting jobs, public health initiatives, and climate resilience efforts in jeopardy. The case seeks to stop the Trump administration’s unlawful freeze on billions in congressionally approved funds under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Congress passed these laws to support infrastructure improvements, climate initiatives, and public health protections.

The Democracy Forward team working on the case includes Friedl, Jessica Morton, and Robin Thurston. 

Read the supporting briefs here and here. 

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.