LANSING – Continuing her fight against unlawful actions by the Trump Administration, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel yesterday joined coalitions in filing a preliminary injunction (PDF) to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education and a separate second motion of enforcement (PDF) against the Trump Administration’s illegal and destructive disruptions to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants. 

Last week, Donald Trump signed an executive order ordering Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department. The State of Michigan receives approximately $1.5 billion in federal education funding. This funding supports approximately 14% of the state’s students who qualify for special education services through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, aids young children enrolled in Early On Services, and funds the Title I-V programs, including those for migrant and indigenous education programs, English language learners, immigrant students, rural low-income districts, and students facing neglect and delinquency.  

The coalition argues that dismantling DOE would have devastating consequences for the students who benefit from these programs and would jeopardize Pell Grants received by Michigan students each year. A reduction or delay in Pell Grant disbursements would increase college costs for thousands of Michigan students. 

“This executive order is just another illegal attempt by Donald Trump to unilaterally strip essential services from millions of students,” Nessel said. “Eliminating the Department of Education would gut critical Early On services for young children, eliminate community learning centers that provide support for our students, and threaten FAFSA funding that makes higher education accessible. The administration’s reckless move not only jeopardizes Michigan’s students but is blatantly unconstitutional.” 

Attorney General Nessel and the coalition of 20 other attorneys general argue in their lawsuit filed earlier this month and in today’s motion for a preliminary injunction that the Trump administration’s attacks on the Department of Education are illegal and unconstitutional. 

In a separate lawsuit, Attorney General Nessel and a coalition of 22 other attorneys general filed a renewed second motion for enforcement against the Trump administration’s illegal and destructive disruptions to federal funding. Despite multiple court orders and a secured preliminary injunction, the administration has continued to block hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to the states from FEMA under the guise of a manual review process for grant draw requests. Currently, the Michigan State Police are being denied $111.6 million in federal FEMA grant reimbursements, while the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy also has FEMA grant reimbursements on hold pending review. 

“Even with the preliminary injunction that we secured, the Trump administration is still withholding FEMA grants to the Michigan State Police, vital funds that law enforcement depends on to assist Michiganders during disasters, prepare for emergencies, and strengthen homeland security,” Nessel said. “By continuing to illegally block these grants, the administration is undoubtedly making our state less safe. While Donald Trump and his administration may believe they can ignore the rule of law, my coalition and I are here to remind them that is not the case. I will keep fighting on behalf of all Michiganders until this crucial funding is released.” 

Attorney General Nessel and the coalition’s motion seeks another court order to require the release of the FEMA grants currently pending review.