Colorado AG hits Trump with 50th lawsuit
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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed his 50th lawsuit against the Trump administration Thursday — and it won't be his last.
Why it matters: Weiser's legal blitz since President Trump took office is unprecedented in pace and scope, delivering substantial results and boosting his profile as he runs for governor.
Driving the news: The latest lawsuit challenges the Trump administration's decision to halt millions in federal dollars for child care and low-income families in Colorado and four other states.
- The White House's move has an outsized impact on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a monthly cash assistance program. More than 14,000 Colorado families receive TANF-funded services.
- Weiser argues that Trump cannot stop spending approved by Congress nor unfairly target Colorado "out of spite."
The other lawsuits challenge Trump's actions to withhold federal aid for emergency management, food assistance, scientific research and transportation projects, among other areas.
By the numbers: In 29 of the current lawsuits, Weiser says the state is winning the legal fight or has already recovered millions of dollars the White House sought to block.
What he's saying: "This administration breaks the law in ways that harm Colorado," Weiser told Axios Denver in an exclusive interview. "My job is to protect Colorado — to defend this concept that we live under the rule of law."
Between the lines: Weiser says he never expected to file this many lawsuits — averaging one a week for the past year — but he views his office as a frontline check on executive power and the courtroom as the only remaining backstop, given Congress's inaction.
- Weiser rejects the idea that the legal escalation is just partisan payback, saying he would "call out" Democratic presidents who thwarted the law.
Flashback: In Trump's first term, the Colorado Attorney General's Office filed 11 lawsuits against the administration in its first two years, including those filed before Weiser took office.
The intrigue: Colorado lawmakers allocated $604,491 annually to Weiser's office to hire three attorneys to combat harmful federal actions, but given the state's budget crisis, the money is at risk of cuts.
Zoom in: Of the 50 lawsuits, Colorado is the lead plaintiff on just one — a legal challenge to the termination of public health grants, which could cost the state $229 million if Trump's order stands.
- In six other lawsuits, Colorado is taking a co-leader role. These cases are fighting to recover federal dollars for AmeriCorps, electric vehicle charging stations, domestic violence victims and student loans.
What's next: Weiser says he won't stop at 50, particularly as Trump continues to target Colorado. "I can't look at any of these situations and say, 'We have too much on our plate.' I'm like, 'We have to make room,'" he says.