By james art 
Washington has joined 21 other countries in a lawsuit that wants to block the Federal Government to freeze billions in federal funding for a number of state programs, including those centered on education, roads and healthcare.
This move, declared by the general services of the lawyers, followed wide confusion throughout the country such as countries, non -profit organizations and others struggled to implement a directive from the Federal Management and Budget Office.
Originally announced in an internal memorandum on Monday, the directive ordered federal agencies to freeze payments that “may be involved in President Donald Trump’s recent orders. According to the Directive, this includes “Financial Assistance for Foreign Assistance, NGOs, DEI, has awakened the ideology of gender and the green new deal.”
According to the office of the Prosecutor General of Washington Nick Brown, the order may influence the funding for children and special education, planning and construction of highways, energy, drug treatment and care for nursing for veterans.
“The White House justifies this harmful move with the alarmism of the Cultural War, but in reality they rob the governments and service providers that keep people safe and serve urgent needs in all our communities,” Brown says in a prepared statement. “People’s jobs are set. Veterans services are at risk. Health care and education will be taken from children. Programs that support the victims of crime can disappear. These examples are the tip of the iceberg. “
The trial of the 22nd states has been brought to the US District Court for Rod Island. Minutes before the order came into force on Tuesday, a federal judge in Washington, Colombia District, blocked the order to enter into force after a separate case from Nestroan and Public Health Groups. The order will expire on Monday.
The complaint that Washington has joined seeks to prevent the federal government from executing the order and requests a court declaration that the note is illegal. In submission, countries say that although “the full account of all federal grants programs that benefit from the claimant’s countries, it is impossible here,” they collectively received more than a trillion dollar from the federal government in the fiscal 2024.
“Presidents have significant powers and elections have consequences,” says governor Bob Ferguson in a prepared statement. “The refusal of President Trump or the inability to develop his priorities in a legitimate and constitutional manner creates unnecessary and cruel chaos. We are confident that the courts will again determine that it exceeds its authority. “
According to the court, Washington has received more than $ 27 billion in federal funding between July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, representing 32% of the state budget.
“Washington simply has no means to cover all these necessary programs that are currently funded through federal dollars. And this certainly has no funds to fill in federal dollars while continuing to pay for the many state -funded programs that its inhabitants rely on, “the lawsuit said.
Approximately $ 13 billion in funding has been restored to Medicaid. According to the complaint, while the restoration of Medicaid was intended to be released from the note, Washington “is currently unable to withdraw funds for Medicaid recovery.”
On Monday, before the note was issued, the Washington Health Authority “tried to ask for approximately $ 160 million from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, which was refused,” according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, the Directive entering into force will definitely lead to redundancies – probably drastic abbreviations – key services provided by state agencies. “
In an email on Tuesday, KD Chapman-Di, director of the Financial Management Office, said that if “Pause comes into force, it will have a detrimental effect on Washington State, its operations and its inhabitants.”
The Chapman-See noted that freezing was ordered as Washington faces approximately $ 12 billion in budget deficit and government agencies face 3% to 6% budget cuts.
The Directive, Chapman-See writes: “It seems to stop” a wide range of state programs if it comes into force. This includes funds for construction and planning of highways, low -income energy assistance and special education grants, among other impacts.
“Omb direction to refuse additional billions of dollars in federal funding, even temporarily, would prevent critical programs, drastically impair the shortage of Washington’s budget and will make almost impossible government agencies and our legislative body prioritize the necessary budget needs,” they see Chapman-visiting wrote.