Judge Blocks Move to Cut $9 Million in Washington State Climate Funds

SEATTLE, WA – A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from cutting more than $9 million in climate resilience funding for the state of Washington.

U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday, stopping the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from terminating two federal climate grants awarded to Washington.

The order prevents NOAA from impeding the state’s access to the funding, which was intended to support programs aimed at helping communities adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.

“Allowing a change in an administration to upend multi-year grants would cause unnecessary chaos across the vast world of government-supported endeavors undertaken by states, universities, non-profits, and others,” Pechman wrote in her ruling.

The funding cuts, announced by NOAA on May 5, targeted two state programs. The largest was a $9.3 million award to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Tribal Steward Program, which aimed to educate more than 2,100 students in environmental science and natural resource management. The second was a $250,000 Department of Ecology project focused on reducing environmental and health disparities by addressing coastal hazards.

In her decision, Pechman said Washington made compelling arguments that the agency’s actions were likely unlawful.

“Washingtonians are already contending with the devastating effects of climate change – including the deadly heatwave in 2021,” Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement. “We’re grateful for this win in court protecting congressionally authorized funds that will help communities on the frontlines of climate change.”

Assistant Attorneys General Caitlin Soden, Leah Brown, and Ellen Range, along with Paralegals Joshua Bennett and Julie Dolloff, represented the state in the case.

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