NJ Joins Lawsuits Against Trump Admin Over Cuts to Education and Disaster Funding

NEW JERSEY — In two separate multistate lawsuits filed this week, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined coalitions of states challenging what he describes as unlawful and unconstitutional actions by the Trump Administration that jeopardize critical federal funding for both public education and disaster preparedness.

The lawsuits, filed on July 14 and July 16, respectively, seek to reverse abrupt federal funding cuts that could significantly impact New Jersey residents, particularly school communities and areas vulnerable to extreme weather.

Lawsuit 1: Education Grants Frozen Ahead of School Year

In the first suit, Attorney General Platkin joined 23 other states to oppose the U.S. Department of Education's decision to freeze billions in formula grant funding, including $158 million allocated to New Jersey. These funds support six long-established programs focused on services for English learners, students with special needs, teacher training, afterschool enrichment, and adult education.

Filed in federal court, the suit argues that the freeze violates the laws and statutes governing federal budgeting and educational grants, including the Antideficiency Act, the Impoundment Control Act, and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine. According to the complaint, the Trump Administration informed state education departments on June 30, just one day before the scheduled disbursement, that it would not obligate funds for these programs for the 2025-2026 academic year.

AG Platkin criticized the timing and legality of the decision: “Freezing billions of dollars in critical education funding just ahead of the start of the school year isn’t just wrong and reckless. It is also flagrantly illegal. Rather than working with us to support students, educators, and schools, the Trump Administration continues to harm our children and families by defunding afterschool care programs, teacher training programs, and programs for English learners and those with special needs."

Many of the affected programs are already experiencing disruptions. Summer learning programs, which offer both childcare and academic enrichment, have gone unfunded. School districts, which had already budgeted and hired staff based on expected grant money, are now facing a gap just weeks before the start of the school year.

Lawsuit 2: BRIC Program Termination Threatens Climate Resilience

Two days later, on July 16, Platkin joined a separate coalition of 20 states challenging the termination of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, a core pillar of federal disaster mitigation efforts.

Established in response to disasters like Hurricane Katrina, BRIC provides pre-disaster funding for infrastructure upgrades that protect communities from events such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. In New Jersey, BRIC funds support major projects including flood mitigation in the Meadowlands, floodwalls in Jersey City and Hoboken, and infrastructure improvements at Port Newark.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized New Jersey’s vulnerability: “New Jersey has repeatedly been hit by natural disasters, including Sandy and Ida, which devastated our state with major loss of life and property. Now the Trump Administration is attempting to illegally shut down BRIC, making it much harder for communities across our state to protect themselves against future extreme weather events and putting lives at risk. This decision is callous, abrupt, and an unlawful termination of a critical Congressionally-authorized program."

Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette added that the BRIC funding is essential in the face of escalating climate threats, particularly given recent flash flooding events in the state.

“The threats of climate change, as we have seen in devastating flooding across the country and in New Jersey as recently as this week, are very real and are only going to get worse,” said New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “Funding from the BRIC program supports critical initiatives that enhance resilience and protect lives and property."

The lawsuit argues that the Trump Administration’s decision to halt BRIC funding is both a statutory and constitutional violation. It alleges misuse of Congressional appropriations, unlawful agency action under the Administrative Procedures Act, and improper delegation of authority to Cameron Hamilton, who directed the program’s termination without Senate confirmation as FEMA Administrator.

Combined Impact on New Jersey

The lawsuits collectively represent efforts to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in federal support for New Jersey residents. Education and climate resilience are two areas where federal-state cooperation has long been critical, particularly in a state with significant coastal infrastructure and one of the nation’s most diverse public school systems.

If left unchallenged, the education grant freeze and BRIC program termination could directly impact families across the state by eliminating academic support programs, increasing school district financial strain, and stalling projects designed to reduce damage and risk from natural disasters.

Through the legal actions, New Jersey and its co-plaintiff states are seeking both immediate injunctions and permanent reversals of the federal directives. These lawsuits underscore the broader legal contention that the Executive Branch may not unilaterally withhold Congressionally appropriated funds, particularly in areas affecting public welfare and safety.

More information about these cases will be released as proceedings develop.

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