SEATTLE, WA – Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of illegally withholding more than $9 million in federal funds authorized by Congress to support the state’s climate resilience efforts.
The funds were originally awarded through programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to the lawsuit, NOAA abruptly terminated two climate resilience grants on May 5, citing inconsistencies with the president’s priorities. The state alleges this action was unlawful and threatens to undermine Washington’s comprehensive climate resilience strategy, putting jobs and vulnerable communities at risk.
One major affected project is the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) Tribal Stewards Program, which had received $9.3 million to build a network of colleges, tribes, and employers to train over 2,000 students in fields related to wildlife biology, environmental science, and natural resources with a focus on climate resilience. Eleven employers had committed to hiring graduates of the program, especially in regions officials designated as economically depressed and climate-vulnerable.
“NOAA’s decision to abruptly stop funding Washington’s Tribal Stewards Program directly impacts future workers who want to start work in well-paying climate resilience jobs and employers in these in-demand fields,” said Nate Humphrey, SBCTC executive director. Without the funding, he warned, colleges and tribes may fall behind in keeping workers prepared for industry needs.
The lawsuit also challenges cuts to the Department of Ecology’s project titled Advancing an Equitable Framework for Coastal Resilience in Washington State. NOAA initially awarded $250,000 to this initiative in 2023 to help address coastal hazards and reduce environmental and health disparities. Nearly half of these funds—about $114,000—were withheld, halting the project and leaving coastal communities more vulnerable.
The complaint asserts that the Department of Commerce and NOAA violated the Administrative Procedure Act by taking arbitrary and capricious actions to terminate the funding. It further claims the agencies’ actions are unconstitutional, violating the U.S. Constitution’s Spending Clause and separation of powers principles.
Washington is asking the court to declare the agencies’ actions unlawful and unconstitutional, and to restore the funding.
