We're Suing the Trump Administration to Restore Funding for an Underground Railroad Museum

In Albany, New York, there is a brick townhouse where abolitionists Stephen and Harriet Myers once sheltered people escaping slavery — some of them led by Harriet Tubman herself. For over twenty years, the Underground Railroad Education Center has called that house home, using it to teach that the Underground Railroad wasn't just a historical footnote. It was a civil rights movement. And it still has something to teach us.

Last week, L4GG volunteer attorneys filed a federal lawsuit on the Center's behalf to get back the funding the Trump administration took from them. It is exactly the kind of case we exist to fight.

What Happened

In 2023, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the Center a $250,000 grant through a rigorous, competitive process. The money was meant to fund a new Interpretive Center — a space that would have expanded the museum's reach, preserved its growing collection of over 27,000 artifacts, and created jobs in one of Albany's most economically marginalized neighborhoods.

The Center met every single requirement. Then, in May 2025, the grant was canceled. No warning. No appeal.

The cancellation came on the heels of a sweeping directive tied to President Trump's executive orders banning DEI programs across federal agencies. Over 1,400 humanities grants were terminated including 98% of those that focused on Black history and culture.The grants that survived? Projects focused on white presidents and founding fathers.

Why This Case Matters

This isn't about paperwork or bureaucracy. It's about who gets to tell the story of America — and who gets erased from it.

Nina Loewenstein, a volunteer attorney on the case through L4GG, put it plainly: the cancellation is "just explicitly erasing things associated with the Black race." She and the team of volunteer lawyers argue that the Underground Railroad Education Center is just one of thousands of organizations unlawfully targeted by the Trump administration.

Our lawsuit argues three things: that the withdrawal was racially discriminatory, that it unconstitutionally punished the Center for its viewpoint, and that it violated the NEH's own legal mandate to support diverse and underrepresented communities — a mandate Congress reaffirmed as recently as 2025.

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The Underground Railroad Education Center did everything right. It earned this grant. And the history it preserves belongs to all of us.

We're asking the court to reinstate the funding and strike down the directive that caused these mass terminations in the first place. Because if we allow the government to defund Black history and call it fiscal responsibility, the damage goes far beyond one museum in Albany.

This is what L4GG's network of attorneys shows up for — to stand with organizations doing vital work that have been wronged. We are proud to bring this fight.

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Cases like this one are handled through L4GG’s Pro Bono Litigation Corps (PBLC) — our flagship program that mobilizes litigators to take on high-impact cases just like this. If you're a litigator looking to do meaningful pro bono work, learn more at L4GG.org/PBLC.

Federal Appeals Court to Hear Arguments in Lawsuit to Restore Environmental and Climate Justice Grant Program

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C Circuit will hear oral arguments to determine the fate of more than $3 billion in federal Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants. These funds, authorized by Congress under the Inflation Reduction Act (which added Section 138 to the Clean Air Act), were abruptly terminated by the Trump Administration, stripping critical resources from communities working to ensure clean air, safe water, and climate resilience. 

Attorneys from Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Earthjustice, and Public Rights Project, are representing a coalition of  community-based nonprofits, Tribes, and local governments in Appalachian Voices et al v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This coalition is appealing a U.S. District Court’s August 2025 decision that dismissed the case under the argument that it belongs in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. 

“The rule of law exists to ensure that the government remains accountable to the people and the laws enacted by Congress,” said  Jillian Blanchard, Senior Vice President of Climate Change and Environmental Justice at Lawyers for Good Government. “Communities across this country spent years advocating for these resources, and they made life-altering decisions based on EPA’s promise. To claw back those funds now undermines that trust. L4GG is fighting to restore these funds because a promise made with mandated funding should be a promise kept, and no administration is above the laws passed to protect our communities’ health and future.”

The grants in question were designed to fund projects ranging from air quality monitoring to the implementation of clean energy in over-burdened areas. 

“This argument is another step in our fight to restore the Environment and Climate Justice Block grant program. Congress mandated that EPA award grants to reduce air pollution and prepare communities for natural disasters and extreme weather. EPA’s decision to eliminate this program was unlawful and has harmed communities throughout the South and across the country,” said Ben Grillot, Senior Attorney at Southern Environmental Law Center.

“Local governments and Tribal nations began hiring staff, signing contracts, and launching projects to make their communities healthier and more resilient based on these federal awards — only to have the federal government abruptly pull the rug out from under them. Congress authorized these funds, and the administration cannot simply ignore the law,” said Jonathan Miller, Chief Program Officer at Public Rights Project.

“Communities across the country have lost out on projects that would have tackled environmental harms, reduced pollution, and increased climate resilience because the Trump administration thinks it is above the law,” said Hana Vizcarra, Deputy Managing Attorney at Earthjustice. “We’re fighting alongside our partners and clients to hold the administration to account for its wholesale elimination of EPA’s grant program, which unlawfully stripped these beneficial projects from communities across the country.”

The arguments  will determine whether the court will hear the case that compels the restoration of these funds. 

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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) coordinates large-scale pro bono programs and issue advocacy efforts to protect human rights, defend the environment, and ensure equal justice under the law, and has a network of 125,000+ lawyers to assist in its efforts. lawyersforgoodgovernment.org

Public Rights Project is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We do this by building their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convening and connecting them on issues of civil rights, and providing legal representation to governments to help them win in court on behalf of their residents. Since our founding, we’ve built a network of over 1,300 partners, including elected officials and 227 government offices across all 50 states, and helped recover over $46 million in relief for marginalized people. www.publicrightsproject.org 

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 250, including more than 160 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. selc.org

Earthjustice is the premier environmental law organization in the U.S., and the legal backbone of the domestic environmental movement. For over 50 years, we have been fighting in the courts, in legislatures, and in the court of public opinion to stop the climate crisis, create healthy communities free of pollution, safeguard our precious lands and waters, and expand environmental legal frameworks to achieve these goals. Earthjustice.org

L4GG Condemns EPA’s Final Repeal of the Endangerment Finding

WASHINGTON — Following today’s final action by the Environmental Protection Agency repealing the 2009 endangerment finding, Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of Climate Change & Environmental Justice at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), issued the following statement:

“By finalizing the repeal of the endangerment finding, the EPA has formally declared its loyalty to polluters over people. This decision rips out the scientific and legal foundation that has protected Americans from dangerous climate pollution for more than a decade, and it does so by ignoring decades of peer-reviewed science, sidelining expert consensus, and fast-tracking a change with enormous consequences for public health. 

“Section 202(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7521(a)(1)) clearly states that the EPA Administrator must regulate any air pollutant that can “cause, or contribute to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” Courts have been clear for years: the Clean Air Act requires EPA to follow the science and regulate climate pollution that endangers human health and welfare. This rule violates both the law and reality, and it will be challenged accordingly.  “Greenhouse gases don’t stop endangering people because an administration says they don’t. Heat waves, floods, wildfires, and toxic air will continue to harm communities whether EPA acknowledges the science or not.

“What makes this move especially egregious is the process itself. EPA rushed this rule through on an artificially short timeline, relied on discredited pseudoscience from a politicized ‘Climate Working Group,’ and dismissed thousands of public comments, claiming any related to climate science  were ‘out of scope.’ That is the definition of arbitrary and capricious decision-making and a failure to observe due process. 

“Communities, states, and advocates, including Lawyers for God Government, will continue to call for administrative reconsideration and push back against this repeal in the courts. This fight is far from over.”

Ryan Hathaway, L4GG’s Director of Environment and Climate Justice and former Director for Environmental Justice under Biden, added the following:

“The EPA can’t just erase the endangerment finding with the stroke of a pen. By 2009, the science was unequivocal: greenhouse gases endanger public health. The Endangerment finding wasn’t political; it was the culmination of decades of measurement, modeling, and global consensus. To reverse it now would not only ignore overwhelming scientific evidence, but unravel one of the rare moments where policy caught up to facts. It would be like deciding, years after seatbelts saved millions of lives, that maybe we never needed them. It’s reckless, ignorant, irresponsible, and will hurt people. We are not going to stand for it.”

If you’d like to connect with Jillian or Ryan to discuss the legal and environmental stakes of this unprecedented rollback, and why courts are likely to view this proposal as unlawful, we’d be happy to arrange an interview.

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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of 125,000 lawyers, law students, and advocates in the fight for justice. We identify where lawyers can make the greatest impact and mobilize them to defend democracy and the rule of law, protect civil and human rights, and advance environmental justice through coordinated legal action and advocacy efforts that create meaningful change for all Americans.

L4GG Files Amicus Brief in Appeal Defending $20 Billion Clean Energy Fund From Trump Administration Power Grab

WASHINGTON — Today, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) filed an amicus brief as counsel for 40 U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives, in the appeal of Climate United Fund v. Citibank, N.A. over the Trump administration’s cancellation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).

The filing responds to the Trump administration’s appeal of a district court ruling that blocked EPA’s attempt to dismantle the program and reclaim funds already awarded. The brief argues that the Environmental Protection Agency’s termination of $20 billion in Congressionally mandated clean energy grants, and attempt to claw back already-disbursed funds, is unconstitutional and sets a dangerous precedent.

“Congress created, funded, and directed EPA to deliver this money to build clean energy projects that cut pollution and lower energy bills,” said Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of Climate Change & Environmental Justice at L4GG. “EPA cannot simply undo the law by executive fiat. That’s a violation of the Constitution’s separation of powers.”

The brief, which you can read in full here, argues:

• Congress has the exclusive “power of the purse.” Under the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, only Congress decides how federal funds are allocated.

• EPA’s termination was a power grab. By nullifying programs after money had already been awarded and transferred, the administration usurped Congress’s authority.

• The administration’s appeal asks the Court to rewrite precedent. By leaning on a misreading of Dalton v. Specter, the administration ignores clear Supreme Court rulings (Train v. New York, Clinton v. New York) that prohibit the executive branch from refusing to spend funds Congress appropriated.

• If allowed to stand, the ruling creates a de facto line-item veto. Any future administration could cancel duly authorized programs and seize funds Congress already appropriated, undermining democracy and destabilizing community investments.

“This is not a routine contract dispute—it is a constitutional power grab,” said Gary DiBianco, counsel at L4GG’s Pro Bono Litigation Corps. “If the executive can claw back billions that Congress has already spent, then the courts and the executive have stripped all meaning from Congress’s power of the purse.”

The GGRF was created by the Inflation Reduction Act to invest nearly $20 billion in projects that reduce pollution, lower energy costs, and build resilience in disadvantaged communities. Hundreds of organizations have already begun planning and hiring around these funds, which are now in jeopardy. 

If you’re interested in learning more about some of those communities and projects impacted, we’d be happy to potentially arrange interviews.

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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of 125,000 lawyers, law students, and advocates in the fight for justice. We identify where lawyers can make the greatest impact and mobilize them to defend democracy and the rule of law, protect civil and human rights, and advance environmental justice through coordinated legal action and advocacy efforts that create meaningful change for all Americans.

Medical Records of Over 3,000 Transgender Youth Protected from Overreaching Federal Subpoena After Legal Challenge

Medical Records of Over 3,000 Transgender Youth Protected from Overreaching Federal Subpoena After Legal Challenge

DOJ Settlement Marks Unprecedented Win for Health Privacy and Constitutional Rights

January 23, 2026, Washington, D.C.— The Department of Justice has withdrawn its subpoena demanding the medical records of over 3,000 transgender youth at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and entered into a settlement agreement with a group of patients and their families, represented by Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Impact Fund.

The subpoena, served this summer to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, sought sweeping access to minors' most sensitive medical records—including mental health treatment notes,  prescribing information, and other deeply personal details—related to gender-affirming care. L4GG and co-counsel filed a motion to quash the subpoena on behalf of a putative class of affected patients and families in federal court in the Central District of California, arguing it violated patients' constitutional right to privacy and exceeded the government's legal authority.

“This is a massive victory for every family that refused to be intimidated into backing down. The government’s attempt to rifle through children’s medical records was unconstitutional from the start. Today’s settlement affirms what we’ve said all along: these families have done nothing wrong, and their children’s privacy deserves protection.”

— Khadijah Silver, Director of Gender Justice & Health Equity at Lawyers for Good Government

“This settlement is a crucial affirmation that health care decisions belong in exam rooms, not government subpoenas. Youth, families, and medical providers have constitutional rights to privacy and dignity. No one’s private health records should be turned into political ammunition—especially children. This ruling protects sensitive medical records, upholds the professional integrity of providers, and reinforces that families seeking lawful care are not suspects—they’re entitled to safety and confidentiality.”

— Cori Racela, Executive Director for Western Center on Law & Poverty

The settlement agreement protects the anonymity of the affected youth and families while securing the withdrawal of the government's demands for their medical records — and those of their fellow patients.

“We are so proud to represent our clients who stepped up to protect their families and thousands of others by being plaintiffs in this lawsuit. Their bravery helps protect all of us from unlawful and discriminatory government intrusion into private health care decisions between patients, families, and doctors.”

— Lori Rifkin, Litigation Director at Impact Fund

Gender-affirming care remains legal in many states and is endorsed by every major medical association, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society. The investigation's underlying premise—that lawful medical treatment becomes fraudulent based solely on the identity of the patient receiving it—has been widely rejected by legal experts and medical professionals.

“Parents who follow medical advice and seek evidence-based treatment for their children should never be subjected to government harassment. This settlement sends a clear message: constitutional rights matter, and families seeking legal medical care for their children are entitled to privacy and dignity.”

— Amy Powell, Litigation Director at Lawyers for Good Government

L4GG Files Amicus Brief Supporting Youth Climate Plaintiffs in Ninth Circuit Appeal

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) filed an amicus brief in support of youth plaintiffs represented by Our Children’s Trust in Lighthister, et al. v. Trump, et al., a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appealing the dismissal of claims challenging federal executive actions designed to expand fossil fuel use.

The brief urges the Ninth Circuit to reverse the district court’s ruling, which held that despite “overwhelming” evidence that the Plaintiffs are suffering tangible injury caused by the implementation of the challenged laws, the harm was not redressable by the courts. L4GG argues that this conclusion misapplies binding precedent and, if allowed to stand, would severely weaken the judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights.

The brief, which you can read in full here, argues that federal courts have both the authority and the obligation to declare unconstitutional executive actions invalid—particularly where those actions are the legal cause of ongoing harm to young people’s health, safety, and lives.

Specifically, the brief explains:

• Declaratory relief is meaningful redress. Longstanding Supreme Court precedent—including Brown v. Board of Education—establishes that invalidating an unconstitutional legal mandate itself constitutes redress, even where full compliance may take time or face resistance.

• The district court misread Juliana v. United States. Unlike Juliana, where plaintiffs sought a court-designed national climate plan, the youth plaintiffs here seek a narrow, traditional remedy: a declaration that specific executive orders are unconstitutional and ultra vires.

• Courts are not powerless simply because a remedy is incomplete. Article III does not require courts to solve a policy problem in full—only to eliminate the legal cause of a constitutional injury. Declaring the challenged executive orders invalid would withdraw their legal force and reduce the harms they are causing.

• Denying redressability here would undermine the rule of law. If courts may not invalidate unconstitutional executive mandates simply because they do not control every downstream effect, entire categories of constitutional claims would become nonjusticeable.

“Federal courts do not lose their constitutional role simply because a case involves climate change or executive policy,” said Charles Dell’Ario, counsel for amicus, and pro bono volunteer for Lawyers for Good Government. “When an executive order is the legal cause of constitutional injury, courts have both the power and the duty to say what the law is and to withdraw that mandate from the legal system.”

"When courts find that the administration has caused a constitutional injury—as the court did here—the government cannot evade liability by arguing that there is nothing a court can do about it,” added Amy Powell, Litigation Director, Pro Bono Litigation Corps, Lawyers for Good Government. “Rather, a declaratory judgment invalidating the challenged executive actions is real relief with real meaning. The rule of law requires no less."

If you’d be interested in discussing the case and this brief further, we’d be happy to connect you to one of our spokespeople at L4GG’s Pro Bono Litigation Corps, for any comment.

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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of 125,000 lawyers, law students, and advocates in the fight for justice. We identify where lawyers can make the greatest impact and mobilize them to defend democracy and the rule of law, protect civil and human rights, and advance environmental justice through coordinated legal action and advocacy efforts that create meaningful change for all Americans.

L4GG Responds to D.C. Circuit Granting En Banc Review in Green Bank Litigation

WASHINGTON — Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of Climate Change & Environmental Justice at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granting en banc review in litigation challenging the termination of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a $20 billion Congressionally authorized clean energy and climate resilience program:

““The D.C. Circuit’s decision to grant en banc review is a major inflection point in the fight for affordable energy, climate resilience, and the rule of law. For months, the administration has tried to dismiss these funds as waste while families across the country are paying record electricity bills and struggling to keep the lights on. ”

“The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was designed to deliver cheaper, homegrown energy, backup power, and real resilience where it’s needed most — lowering costs for everyday people and strengthening communities before disaster strikes. This funding was built to keep energy bills down for Americans who are already stretched thin and to build critical markets to support these projects.

“Full-court review is relatively rare, and the fact that the court expressly cited L4GG’s amicus brief on behalf of 40 Members of Congress underscores how serious the constitutional and statutory issues are here. Nearly $20 billion lawfully appropriated by Congress is at stake, and this case will determine whether an administration can simply override Congress’s spending decisions by fiat, eroding a basic principle of our democracy.”

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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) coordinates large-scale pro bono programs and issue advocacy efforts to protect human rights, defend the environment, and ensure equal justice under the law, and has a network of 125,000+ lawyers to assist in its efforts. lawyersforgoodgovernment.org.