Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the state of Colorado has actively engaged in legal actions to challenge various executive orders and policies of the Trump administration. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, has been at the forefront of these efforts, filing lawsuits and offering support for other legal challenges.
As of today, Colorado has been involved in five major lawsuits and has filed two amicus briefs in other ongoing legal cases. Here’s a look at some of the key legal actions Colorado has taken against Trump’s policies.
1. Birthright Citizenship Lawsuit
On January 20, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship in the United States. This controversial order aimed to strip automatic citizenship from children born on U.S. soil to non-citizen parents.
In response, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, along with a group of other state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on January 21, 2017. The lawsuit argued that Trump’s executive order violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, clearly states that anyone born or naturalized in the United States is a citizen of the country and the state they reside in. Weiser condemned the executive order, calling it a direct assault on the Constitution and the rule of law. Other states and several civil rights groups joined in the fight, with multiple judges blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the order until the lawsuits could be fully resolved.
2. Freeze on Federal Funds
On January 27, 2017, the Office of Management and Budget issued a sweeping freeze on federal funds, halting the disbursement of money to states and federal programs. Colorado, along with more than 20 other states, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on January 28, 2017, challenging the legality of the freeze. The lawsuit argued that the freeze violated the separation of powers and was causing significant harm to Colorado, particularly in areas like healthcare, education, and public safety.
A judge in Rhode Island heard arguments in the case, and multiple judges have since issued temporary orders blocking the freeze, ensuring that federal funds continue to be distributed while the litigation is ongoing.
3. DOGE Data Privacy Lawsuit
In early February 2017, news broke that Elon Musk’s company, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had gained access to sensitive taxpayer data through the Department of Treasury’s payment infrastructure. Colorado Attorney General Weiser joined other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit sought to stop DOGE and the Trump administration from accessing private taxpayer information without proper safeguards.
Weiser argued that the unauthorized sharing of such sensitive information posed a serious threat to the privacy of Colorado residents and violated constitutional protections. The lawsuit aimed to block DOGE’s access to the Department of Treasury’s systems, and a New York judge issued a temporary order to halt the access on February 14, 2017. Another group of attorneys general filed a separate lawsuit, with a judge in Washington, D.C., ruling against a restraining order.
4. Defunding Medical Research
On February 7, 2017, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it would no longer reimburse research universities and medical schools at the previously negotiated rate for indirect costs. This change was seen as an attempt to limit funding for biomedical research, particularly in areas that could be critical for advancements in healthcare. Weiser and 21 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit on February 10, 2017, challenging the legality of this cut in funding.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argued that the NIH’s decision to cap reimbursements at a 15% rate would harm vital medical research and violate the Administrative Procedures Act. The move was expected to cost Colorado’s universities nearly $90 million in research funding. A judge extended a temporary block on the funding cuts on February 21, 2017.
5. Gender-Affirming Care Executive Order
On January 28, 2017, President Trump issued an executive order threatening to cut federal funding from any medical institution providing gender-affirming care to minors. In response, Colorado joined several other states in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The lawsuit sought to block the enforcement of the executive order, which would also have criminalized healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care.
The lawsuit argued that the executive order violated the equal protection clause of the 5th Amendment by targeting transgender individuals and discriminating against them. After the order caused a number of Colorado hospitals to cancel appointments for transgender minors, a federal judge temporarily blocked the order, calling it discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth.
6. Additional Legal Support
In addition to the lawsuits mentioned above, Attorney General Phil Weiser has supported other legal actions related to Trump’s policies. For example, Colorado joined an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit filed by federal worker unions challenging Trump’s “Fork in the Road” buyout offer, which was confusing federal employees.
Weiser also filed amicus briefs in support of lawsuits aimed at protecting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was ordered by the Trump administration to cease all work and halt new cases.
Colorado also participated in defending a decision by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to ban a device that allowed gun owners to convert firearms into automatic weapons. The state joined other states in fighting against the Trump administration’s attempts to weaken gun regulations.
Conclusion
Through these legal actions, Colorado has actively opposed several policies of the Trump administration that it viewed as harmful or unconstitutional. From birthright citizenship to medical research funding, Colorado has stood firm in its commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of its residents. These legal battles continue to shape the direction of the state’s relationship with the federal government and may have lasting impacts on U.S. law.
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