New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the Trump administration on Monday to block funding conditions set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
James joins 19 other states and the District of Columbia in filing the lawsuit.
“The federal government cannot hold critical funding hostage to force states to comply with vague, ideological directive,” James said in a press release. “These conditions put essential programs at risk and cause chaos for states that rely on this funding to feed families, support farmers and keep communities safe. I will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers and ensure they receive the resources they depend on.”
The new requirements by the USDA say states must follow federal restrictions related to gender ideology, immigration, fair athletic opportunities and other political priorities in order to receive funding. James said the conditions fail to define which conduct is prohibited, and that leaves states in a position to determine how to comply.
James said the requirements are unconstitutionally vague and are an effort to require states to adopt federal policy preferences. She has asked the court to prohibit the USDA from implementing or enforcing the illegal conditions imposed by the administration.
The USDA provides billions of dollars to New York every year for a variety of programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infant and Children, and various programs for New York farmers. The agricultural sector could lose grant programs for crop production, disease and pest management, and other safety net programs that help farmers experiencing financial difficulty, James said.
New York is one of the largest dairy producing states in the country and is known for producing many specialty crops, including apples, grapes, cabbage and other fruits and vegetables, which often rely on funding from the USDA. This comes as commodity prices are at a historic low, and record-high input costs continue to rise due to the war in Iran. Congress has not updated the Farm Bill, which expired in 2023, instead continuing to extend the 2018 version of the bill.
If New York were to lose USDA funding, James’ office says it would threaten funding for agricultural research conducted by universities and other state agencies. Forestry and wildfire prevention programs could be also impacted, reducing the state’s ability to manage forests and prevent wildfires.