Democratic Attorneys General Planned Trump Lawsuits Before Election

At least 22 Democratic state attorneys general coordinated a strategy to litigate against Donald Trump as early as April 2024, months before his reelection. A confidential Common Interest Agreement obtained by The Center Square reveals the group, nicknamed the Project for Federal Accountability, plotted litigation against hypothetical government actions.

Since January 2025, these attorneys general have filed nearly 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has participated in 82 of these cases, describing the legal actions as apolitical. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown defended the early coordination, stating the goal was to ensure the states were prepared and not caught off guard.

Financial records indicate significant state funding for these efforts. California appropriated 25 million dollars for federal accountability litigation, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy added 1 million dollars to the fiscal year 2026 budget to support the project. While participants frame the planning as necessary preparation, critics and former officials argue the early coordination is unusual and partisan.