Washington, DC – Before Donald Trump took office five weeks ago, Democratic attorneys general knew the administration would pose challenges on a greater scale compared to his first term. After months of careful strategizing, Dem AGs are standing strong against the unlawful actions undertaken by Trump.

As reported by The Washington Post, “​​Amid a barrage of executive orders from President Trump and dramatic steps by billionaire Elon Musk to downsize the federal government, Democratic attorneys general have emerged as the new administration’s most persistent — and effective — adversaries.”

Key highlights:

• “While congressional Democrats who lack control of either chamber have struggled to respond to Trump’s first weeks, state attorneys general have marched into court, pledging to rein in an administration intent on pushing the limits of presidential power.”

• “In the past month alone, multistate coalitions have sued the Trump administration seven times, challenging actions such as an order to end birthright citizenship and Musk’s push to access sensitive Treasury Department data.”
• “The quick and coordinated pushback from Democratic attorneys general is the product of months of planning and regular consultations since Trump’s inauguration…”

• “…Musk committed ‘in our view, a new violation, a new betrayal of trust with the American people,’ said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. The culture of ‘move fast and break things’ may work in Silicon Valley, where Musk made his fortune, Torrez said. But ‘it’s not good governance and it’s unconstitutional.’”

• “‘The attorneys general, the top law enforcement officers in their states, have a unique ability to challenge federal actions in court,’ said James Tierney….Their lawsuits play ‘a vital role, an emergency role,’ Tierney said.”

• “… they drafted legal documents to hold in a “brief bank,” ready to be pulled out if necessary […] the preparation paid off. The attorneys general pulled their challenges to Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order canceling birthright citizenship “right off the shelf,” Bonta said.
• “…the cases that he and his colleagues are bringing against the Trump administration, Torrez said, are ‘the most important work I’ll ever do in public life.’”

• “The current coordination among Democratic officials is deeper and more organized than during Trump’s first term, said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha…”

###