Bellingham joins multi-city and county suit against Trump administration
Bellingham joined a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging unconstitutional withholding of funds unless local governments adopt certain policies. The suit, initiated by five counties and three cities, targets Scott Turner, head of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mayor Kim Lund criticized the federal government's tactics, stating, “It’s unacceptable and possibly unlawful to use housing and transportation funding as leverage.
” The lawsuit claims that this approach violates the 5th and 10th Amendments and the Administrative Procedure Act. Public Rights Project, co-counsel on the case, filed a request for a preliminary injunction to protect the newly added plaintiffs. Bellingham, alongside nearly 60 local governments, signed on to King County v. Turner to challenge these practices. The city's 2025 Preliminary Budget anticipates over $45 million in funding from state and federal sources.
This legal action reflects Bellingham's commitment to uphold its community values against perceived federal overreach.