Washington state's lawsuits that challenge Trump's policies

This list of curated articles describes Washington state's legal actions against the Trump administration's policies. They focus on the state's efforts to challenge federal measures that the state deems unlawful or harmful to its residents.

Recently, the state challenged the imposition of a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions. The suit says the fee will exacerbate job shortages in sectors like health care and education. Washington also recently contested changes in federal housing-support policy, arguing they undermine public services and will increase homelessness.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, Jan. 21, over the President’s executive order outlawing birthright citizenship. By Screenshot

NO. 1: WA LEADS MULTI-STATE LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP’S EXEC ORDER ENDING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

The announcement came roughly a day after Trump was sworn in as President for the second time. | Published January 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown speaks on the steps of Federal Court, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Seattle along with leadership from the FBI and Seattle Police Department about the Atomwaffen hate campaign following the sentencing of Kaleb Cole. By Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times

NO. 2: WA SIGNS UP FOR MULTI-STATE LAWSUIT OVER TRUMP’S FEDERAL FINANCIAL-ASSISTANCE FREEZE

“Presidents have significant powers and elections have consequences,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a Jan. 28 news release. | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

Newly sworn-in President Donald Trump takes part in a signing ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. By Melina Mara

NO. 3: WA, 21 OTHER STATES SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL, PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH

“This attempt to curtail scientific research could have long-lasting impacts for generations to come,” the state attorney general said in a statement. | Published February 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

At a news conference Feb. 13, Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown delivered a stern warning for President Donald Trump: “Follow the damn law. It’s not that hard.” By Steve Bloom

NO. 4: WA JOINS LAWSUIT DECRYING DOGE AND ELON MUSK’S ROLE IN GOVERNMENT AS ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’

This marks the fifth Trump-related lawsuit that Washington has participated in since the president took office less than a month ago. | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

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NO. 5: WA LEADS, JOINS 5 LAWSUITS AGAINST TRUMP: ‘THIS PERSON DOESN’T WANT TO FOLLOW OUR LAWS’

“Every single case we brought, in my mind, is because of the impact on Washington,” said Attorney General Nick Brown. | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

NO. 6: WA JOINS LAWSUIT OVER TRUMP’S ‘ILLEGAL’ FEDERAL FIRINGS, ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES

The office of Attorney General Nick Brown announced Wednesday, March 5, that the state joined the lawsuit. | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

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NO. 7: WA JOINS LAWSUIT CHALLENGING TRUMP’S EFFORT TO DISMANTLE U.S. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

“They are strategic, internal-facing cuts that will not directly impact students and families,” a spokesperson for the Education Department said of the mass layoffs. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

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NO. 8: WA CO-LEADS LAWSUIT AGAINST DHHS, RFK JR. TO REVERSE CUTS TO PUBLIC-HEALTH GRANTS

“We can’t make America healthy by spreading preventable diseases,” said Attorney General Nick Brown. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

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Karen Ducey/The Seattle Times/TNS

NO. 9: AG NICK BROWN BLASTS TRUMP’S ‘FAKE ENERGY EMERGENCY’ IN NEW WA LAWSUIT

“All of these actions cause direct harm to Washington state and our environment,” the attorney general said at a May 9 news conference. | Published May 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

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NO. 10: FERGUSON TARGETS ‘ILLEGAL’ TRUMP TARIFFS WITH HIS SUPPORT FOR MULTI-STATE LAWSUIT

The Democratic governor condemned the tariffs and federal “chaos” during a May 21 news conference at the Port of Seattle. | Published May 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

NO. 11: WA SUES TRUMP ADMIN AFTER HOMELAND SECURITY CUTS FUNDING ‘FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES’

Update 5:30 p.m. | Published September 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced his office’s 45th case against the Trump administration at a news conference on Nov. 25, 2025. By Screenshot / TVW

NO. 12: FEDERAL CHANGES WILL INCREASE WA HOMELESSNESS, AG WARNS IN NEW TRUMP LAWSUIT

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown on Nov. | Published November 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

NO. 13: WA SUES TRUMP ADMIN OVER $100K H-1B VISA FEE, SAYS IT VIOLATES U.S. CONSTITUTION

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced Monday that the state joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s “unlawful” $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. | Published December 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.