Gov. Andy Beshear adds Kentucky to two suits over Trump funding freezes
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky joined a multi-state lawsuit over Trump-era federal grant terminations.
- Gov. Beshear seeks recovery of $3.6M in funds meant for unemployment updates.
- Lawsuit claims agencies unlawfully withheld grants approved by Congress.
Kentucky has joined two multi-state lawsuits against the administration of President Donald Trump over the cancellation of federal grants, Gov. Andy Beshear’s office announced Wednesday.
Beshear’s office says the state joined one suit because about $3.6 million in funding for the state’s Unemployment Insurance program are being “illegally withheld.”
The other contests $32 million frozen from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program entitled to approved Kentucky projects.
Unemployment Insurance cancellations
Federal agencies have used a clause promulgated by the Office of Management and Budget stating that they may terminate grants if it “no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.”
The suit was initially filed in late June in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, the governor’s office confirmed to the Herald-Leader.
The release stated that the $3.6 million was tied to protecting the Unemployment Insurance program from fraud, modernizing the programs and “work to promote the equitable access to the Unemployment Compensation program.”
Beshear’s office argues the freeze of the funds, which were appropriated by Congress, violates federal statutory and regulatory requirements.
“This is not about party affiliation — these funds were appropriated by Congress to help Kentuckians get back on their feet after a job loss, and it’s my job to make sure we get every penny,” Beshear said in a release. “In Kentucky, about $3.6 million in federal grants are being illegally withheld. We will always fight for hardworking Kentuckians and to ensure a bright future for all our families.”
The release also mentioned that the state joined the suit to protect $4.2 million in “at-risk funding,” including federal funds to support disaster relief jobs and training services for those affected by severe flooding.
Two other Democratic governors, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Laura Kelly of Kansas, are also involved in the lawsuit. Beshear and Shapiro are two of several Democrats regularly mentioned as contenders for the 2028 Democratic nomination for president.
Other states involved are New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.
Fighting electric vehicle cuts
Beshear joined 19 other states and the District of Columbia in fighting Trump’s funding cuts for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which approved about $69.5 million to Kentucky through a funding formula for federal fiscal years 2022 through 2025.
Trump’s action canceled $32 million approved for state projects.
“Electric and hybrid vehicles are no longer the technology of the future. They’re here now, and this technology is only becoming more important to our families and businesses,” Beshear said in a news release. “The NEVI program provides critical funding that is helping every state, including Kentucky, build out an EV charging network that everyone can trust and rely upon. Halting the funding sets us all back, and it’s simply wrong.”
Overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the funding program provides states with funding that covers up to 80% of the cost to build, own and operate EV fast charging stations.
Kentucky has seen significant investment in electric vehicle battery manufacturing under Beshear’s tenure.
Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor, also joined this lawsuit.
The two suits announced Wednesday add to the growing list of lawsuits against the Trump administration Beshear has joined. He already joined other actions against Trump for freezing almost $100 million in the state’s school funding, for changes to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and for pulling back COVID-related funds.
Most states in these lawsuits are represented by their attorneys general. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, a Republican, has not joined the suits.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM.
