Multnomah County Joins Two Lawsuits Challenging Trump Administration Funding Restrictions

Multnomah County has joined two federal lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's conditions on federal funding that require local governments to abandon policies on sanctuary immigration, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), abortion access, and gender equity. The lawsuits, King County v. Turner and City of San Francisco v. Scott Turner, argue that these funding conditions are unconstitutional and an overreach of executive power, threatening over $126 million in critical federal grants to Multnomah County for housing, health care, public safety, and infrastructure. County officials, including Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, emphasize that Congress appropriates these funds and that the administration is weaponizing federal dollars to impose a political agenda, risking severe harm to local services and community programs. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration's efforts to withhold these grants while the legal challenges proceed. Multnomah County joins around 60 other local governments nationwide in opposing these conditions, stressing the importance of standing together to protect local autonomy and essential public services. The lawsuits highlight conflicts between federal mandates and local policies protecting immigrant communities and promoting equity initiatives.