Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, issued a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday, Feb. 13 over its freeze of federal funding, saying that it has “jeopardized at least $5.5 billion that has been committed to Pennsylvania.”
The lawsuit said actions by the Trump administration were in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, a law which allows judges to rule against federal agency actions on various grounds and has been commonly cited in lawsuits targeting Trump’s efforts. According to Shapiro, he, his agencies and members of Congress have tried to fully restore access to federal funding to no avail.
“Despite that work, and despite two temporary restraining orders requiring federal agencies to restore access to suspended funds, federal agencies continue to deny Pennsylvania agencies funding that they are entitled to receive,” the lawsuit says.
Since the rescinded White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) order, the Shapiro administration has been working to fully restore funds which it is still unable to access. Alongside Shapiro’s lawsuit are several other federal judges who have ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze funding, however since Pennsylvania is not involved in previous litigation, there is no guarantee that decisions in those particular cases will translate to a restoration of their funds.
As the commonwealth’s access to federal accounts is blocked, it is stuck in a cycle of incurred debts and obligations from federally approved projects that the Trump administration is currently refusing to reimburse. Certain agencies have reserves and discretionary funds to cover smaller, unexpected debts, though the scope and fallout of the federal freeze far exceeds those reserves.
Federal funding is exceedingly important for critical Pennsylvania-based initiatives, such as Shapiro’s ambitious “Lightning Plan” for energy production and plans to reclaim abandoned mine land. Currently frozen federal funds would allow the state to reclaim around 24,000 acres of abandoned mine land in Pennsylvania and construct water treatment systems to deal with toxic runoff. Left unattended, abandoned mines can cause cave-ins and sinkholes, such as the December 2024 sinkhole in Westmoreland County, southeast of Pittsburgh.
“The federal government has entered into a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, promising to provide billions of dollars in Congressionally-approved funding that we have committed to serious needslike protecting public health, cutting energy costs, providing safe, clean drinking water and creating jobs in rural communities,” Shapiro said in the lawsuit. “With this funding freeze, the Trump administration is breaking that contract – and it’s my job as Governor to protect Pennsylvania’s interests.”
Much of the frozen funds Shapiro mentions in his lawsuit stem from initiatives by former President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which enabled several billion to the Commonwealth. Additionally, cleaning up abandoned mines was a major promise by Shapiro during his 2022 gubernatorial campaign.
Other Pennsylvanian politicians have different opinions on the affairs of the Trump administration. As the Senate is poised to finalize Trump’s cabinet nominees, Pennsylvania’s Sen. Dave McCormick (R) is supporting Republican nominees.
“President Trump won a mandate for change,” McCormick said in an interview with WILK Newsradio.“Both winning the Electoral College as decisively as he did, but also the popular vote. I think my job is to help him have the team that he needs.”
Two of the Trump administration’s more controversial picks, which sparked criticisms from the health and intelligence communities, were Tulsi Gabbard (R – HI) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Unsurprisingly, McCormick voted “yea” along party lines to confirm Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence in a 52-48 vote on Feb. 12. The next day, McCormick again voted to confirm RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services in another 52-48 vote. McCormick’s Democratic counterpart Sen. John Fetterman, meanwhile, voted against Gabbard’s and Kennedy’s nominations.
Very few Republicans have defied Trump on his cabinet nominees, with the notable exception of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R – KY), who voted against the nomination of both Gabbard and Kennedy.
Six more cabinet positions are still to be voted on, with their confirmation hearings likely soon, notably Elise Stefanik as Ambassador to the United Nations, Jamieson Greer as Trade Representative, Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary and Linda McMahon as Education Secretary.
