The lawsuit, filed Friday in US District Court for the Western District of Washington, argues that the Trump administration lacks authority to condition federal funding on adherence to national standards related to immigration enforcement, and health policy, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
But critics say local governments such as King County have squandered billions in taxpayer dollars with little to show for it. Despite pouring over $4 billion into homelessness initiatives over the past decade, King County has seen its homeless population grow, not shrink. Public safety issues tied to encampments and addiction have worsened, while services remain fragmented and ineffective.
On the transportation side, projects funded through the FTA, such as Sound Transit’s light rail expansions, have consistently run over budget and behind schedule. Billions more are required to keep plans on track, even as ridership continues to decline from pre-pandemic levels, raising serious concerns about long-term viability.
Rather than address these failures, local leaders are now suing the federal government for daring to attach basic conditions to future funding. These include common-sense expectations like upholding immigration law, ensuring transparent spending, and limiting the use of taxpayer funds for politically driven DEI initiatives that don’t serve all residents equally.
King County Executive Shannon Braddock framed the issue as a defense of local control, claiming the new requirements "bully local governments." But the lawsuit conveniently sidesteps the bigger issue: whether these jurisdictions are using federal dollars effectively, or wasting them on broken programs and bureaucratic bloat.
“Local governments are asking for a blank check,” said Ari Hoffman, a host on Talk Radio 570 KVI. “They’ve mismanaged homelessness, run transit into the ground, and now they want to block any federal effort to ensure accountability.”
Braddock also argued that the administration’s conditions are unlawful and interfere with local “values.” But critics question whose values those are. “When you're talking about values,” Hoffman added, referencing the crime on the transit system, “I think the people who ride your train… their values are to come home alive. That’s just a guess.”
Hoffman also highlighted the contradiction in King County’s rhetoric: “You say you have a duty to fully enforce the law, but apparently not federal law.”
If granted, the temporary restraining order expected to be filed May 5 would prevent HUD and the FTA from enforcing the new terms while the case proceeds.
