Local Government

Bellingham joins lawsuit over federal grant conditions

Friday, September 18, 2026

2 min read

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Bellingham joined six other Washington jurisdictions in a lawsuit against federal agencies on Monday, seeking to protect $87 million in federal grants. The lawsuit, filed in the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names U. S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and nine other federal officials.

The local governments argue that new federal conditions, tied to President Trump’s executive orders since 2025, illegally restrict how grant money can be used. These conditions ban funding for diversity, equity, inclusion programs, immigration services, gender ideology promotion, LGBTQ+ initiatives, and abortion access—despite Washington state laws protecting these programs. King County’s prosecuting attorney, Leesa Manion, noted the county recently won similar lawsuits to protect hundreds of millions in federal funds, stating the court has found no legal basis for such restrictions.

The lawsuit follows a pattern of legal challenges to federal grant conditions that conflict with state laws, with the city aiming to secure continued funding for local services.

📄 Source: Cascadia Daily News — https://www.cascadiadaily.com/

Source receipts10 of 21 claims supported · 48%

Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗

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Bellingham joined six other Washington jurisdictions in a lawsuit against federal agencies on Monday“The City of Bellingham and six other local Washington jurisdictions are suing multiple federal agencies over new conditions that could put $87 million in federal grants at risk. The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (also the head of the Department of Justice), Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and nine other federal agency heads.”
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The lawsuit seeks to protect $87 million in federal grants“The City of Bellingham and six other local Washington jurisdictions are suing multiple federal agencies over new conditions that could put $87 million in federal grants at risk.”
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The lawsuit was filed in the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Washington“The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (also the head of the Department of Justice), Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and nine other federal agency heads.”
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The lawsuit names U. S. Attorney General Todd Blanche“The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (also the head of the Department of Justice), Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and nine other federal agency heads.”
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The lawsuit names Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin“The City of Bellingham and six other local Washington jurisdictions are suing multiple federal agencies over new conditions that could put $87 million in federal grants at risk. The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (also the head of the Department of Justice), Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and nine other federal agency heads.”
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The lawsuit names nine other federal officialsNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Local governments argue that new federal conditions illegally restrict how grant money can be used“Part of those grant conditions target diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and ask that no funding go toward immigration, promotion of gender ideology, LGBTQ+ programs or access to abortions, which remain legal in Washington state.”
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The federal conditions are tied to President Trump’s executive orders since 2025No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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The federal conditions ban funding for diversity, equity, inclusion programs“Part of those grant conditions target diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and ask that no funding go toward immigration, promotion of gender ideology, LGBTQ+ programs or access to abortions, which remain legal in Washington state.”
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The federal conditions ban funding for immigration servicesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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The federal conditions ban funding for gender ideology promotionNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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The federal conditions ban funding for LGBTQ+ initiatives“Part of those grant conditions target diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and ask that no funding go toward immigration, promotion of gender ideology, LGBTQ+ programs or access to abortions, which remain legal in Washington state.”
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The federal conditions ban funding for abortion accessNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Washington state laws protect diversity, equity, inclusion programsNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Washington state laws protect immigration servicesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Washington state laws protect gender ideology promotionNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Washington state laws protect LGBTQ+ initiativesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Washington state laws protect abortion accessNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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King County’s prosecuting attorney is Leesa Manion“"We have recently fought — and won — similar lawsuits to protect hundreds of millions of dollars for King County," said King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion in a statement.”
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King County recently won similar lawsuits to protect hundreds of millions in federal funds“We have recently fought — and won — similar lawsuits to protect hundreds of millions of dollars for King County,”
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The court has found no legal basis for the federal restrictionsNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.