Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 12 other state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to end funding for energy and infrastructure programs. The lawsuit, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, targets actions by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), DOE Secretary Chris Wright, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and OMB Director Russell Vought. The suit claims that billions of dollars in congressionally mandated funding have been unlawfully terminated.
“This unlawful attempt to block funding approved by Congress will seriously harm work being done in Illinois and across the nation to improve energy efficiency, strengthen energy resiliency and increase clean energy – all of which benefit the public,” Raoul said. “I will continue to stand with my fellow attorneys general to fight back against the president’s illegal actions that harm our communities and our environment.”
The legal action follows President Trump’s executive orders on his first day in office declaring a “national energy emergency” and ending what he called the “Green New Deal.” According to the complaint, these directives led to a list compiled by DOE targeting awards from programs created under laws such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
In May 2025, DOE issued a policy memo indicating that previously awarded projects would undergo a new review process. The lawsuit alleges this process was designed to eliminate these programs. During budget negotiations in September 2025, President Trump suggested using a government shutdown as an opportunity to make permanent changes by cutting certain programs. Shortly after, OMB Director Russell Vought announced via social media that nearly $8 billion in climate-related funding would be cut, including funds for projects in Illinois.
Illinois was among 16 states affected by these cuts. Six grant awards worth more than $20 million were terminated at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois-Chicago. These grants supported efforts to improve grid reliability, reduce carbon emissions, and use domestic sources for critical minerals.
The complaint argues that eliminating these congressionally established programs violates both separation of powers principles and the Administrative Procedure Act. Raoul and his colleagues are asking the court to declare these actions unlawful and permanently bar interference with such federal programs.
Joining Raoul are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office regularly advocates for vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants and seniors according to its official website. It also handles thousands of consumer complaints annually while working to protect consumers’ rights and promote safer communities. Its efforts extend statewide through partnerships with law enforcement agencies supporting crime victims and promoting open government. The office provides services including complaint filing related to consumer fraud or civil rights issues as part of its broader mission.
