Letitia James Calls Out Trump's Funding Move: 'Reckless and Dangerous'

Source: Newsweek

Published Jan 28, 2025 at 7:45 AM EST Updated Jan 28, 2025 at 10:04 AM EST


New York Attorney General Letitia James has criticized a pause on federal funding by President Donald Trump's administration as "reckless and dangerous. "Newsweek contacted the James' office and the White House for comment via email outside regular business hours.

Why It Matters

James is a Democrat with a long history of challenging Trump. During his first term, the New York attorney general launched several lawsuits against the administration, including over immigration and environmental policies.

She also filed a lawsuit in 2022 alleging that Trump's company deceived banks, insurers and others by overvaluing assets and his net worth on financial paperwork to secure deals and loans. A judge ruled that Trump and other defendants must pay more than $350 million in penalties—a sum that has now ballooned with interest to almost $500 million.

Following Trump's electoral victory in November, James signaled that she would continue to be a significant legal challenger in his second term, saying, "I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards." She is among more than a dozen Democratic attorneys general who are challenging Trump's recent executive order to end birthright citizenship.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/letitia-james-calls-out-trump-funding-move-reckless-dangerous-2021923