All articles tagged with #state attorneys general
Five Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration for withholding billions in social safety net funds, claiming it overstepped its authority and violated constitutional rights by freezing approved federal aid programs aimed at helping low-income families, amid allegations of fraud and political targeting.
Nineteen states and D.C. sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over a declaration that labels gender-affirming treatments for minors as unsafe, aiming to restrict access and potentially cut federal funding, amid ongoing legal and political battles over transgender healthcare rights.
Sixteen states and D.C. are suing the Trump administration for withholding over $2 billion in EV charging funds allocated by Congress, arguing this violates legal obligations and hampers efforts to combat climate change and promote clean transportation. The lawsuit highlights ongoing conflicts over EV policies and infrastructure funding, with the Trump administration having previously halted spending and rolled back Biden-era EV initiatives, amid slowing EV sales and industry shifts.
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has sued the Trump administration to block its demand for private SNAP recipient data, fearing it will be used for immigration enforcement and deportations, despite the USDA's claims that the data is for fraud prevention. The lawsuit argues that sharing such sensitive information violates privacy laws and that the administration's true intent is to target immigrants, raising concerns among privacy advocates.
Multiple states and D.C. sued the Trump administration for withholding over $6 billion in federal education funds, claiming it violates the law and harms students, as the pause in funding continues without clear timelines, risking significant program cuts and layoffs.
State attorneys general and the FBI are investigating racist text messages sent to Black people nationwide, urging recipients to report them to authorities. The messages, which included references to plantations and President-elect Donald Trump, have raised concerns about how personal phone numbers were accessed. Telecom companies are working to block these messages, and some have traced them to a VPN in Poland, though the origin remains unclear. The incident has prompted widespread condemnation and efforts to enhance security measures against such hate speech.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced a partnership with over a dozen state attorneys general to investigate consumer complaints against airlines, aiming to improve protections for air travelers. This initiative allows state attorney general offices to review complaints and refer potential violations of federal consumer protection rules to the Transportation Department for enforcement action. The partnership, involving attorneys general from 18 states, seeks to address airline passenger grievances and hold airlines accountable, despite the lack of formal state authority to enforce consumer protection laws against airlines.
A coalition of 22 Republican state attorneys general has sent a letter to President Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, warning that the recent moratorium on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects is unlawful and demanding its reversal. They argue that the policy harms national security and the economy, and violates federal statutes. The attorneys general also criticize the lack of public comment period and claim that the moratorium emboldens adversaries like Russia. They emphasize the potential economic and national security benefits of LNG exports and urge the administration to reconsider its decision.
Publicis Health, a subsidiary of the French media conglomerate Publicis Group, has agreed to pay $350 million in a settlement with state attorneys general for its role in promoting OxyContin and aiding in the spread of opioids. The company worked with Purdue Pharma from 2010 to 2019 to develop marketing campaigns and materials, including brochures promoting opioids. This marks the first ever settlement targeting a marketing firm involved in the opioid crisis, as state prosecutors accuse the advertising company of falsely promoting OxyContin as safe and contributing to the epidemic.
Shein, the fast fashion retailer popular among Generation Z and millennial shoppers, is facing demands from 16 state attorneys general to prove it does not use forced labor as it plans to file for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The attorneys general have urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to order Shein to undergo an independent process to verify its labor practices. Shein has been accused of using forced labor in the Xinjiang region of China, and the U.S. government has banned imports from the area due to human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. Shein has denied these allegations.