Seattle (Oct. 31, 2025) – Today, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison announced a U.S. District Court ruling granting the City of Seattle’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders that unlawfully tie federal grant funds to the Administration’s policy preferences on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and gender ideology.
“I sued the Trump administration for its attempt to unconstitutionally condition federal funds via Executive Orders and today my motion won in court,” said City Attorney Davison. “Because of this victory today, Seattle will be able to continue to receive its congressionally appropriated funds. The grant funds are critical to supporting public services in Seattle, including law enforcement, housing, transportation, and disaster prevention. I will protect Seattle from those who do not follow our laws, be it the president or a criminal actor.”
The two executive orders were issued in January of this year.
- EO No. 14168 “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” – issued Jan. 20, 2025.
- EO No. 14173 “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” – issued Jan. 21, 2025.
On July 31, 2025, City Attorney Davison filed the lawsuit on behalf of the City. At the time, the City Attorney said the Executive Orders were “coercive attempts at control by threatening federal funds and linking them to projects and initiatives that are entirely unrelated.”
The Court’s preliminary injunction ordered today prohibits enforcement of the Executive Orders and preserves appropriated federal grant funds to Seattle while the case proceeds.
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