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Attorney General Dana Nessel launches a public tracker spotlighting federal actions under Trump and their legal implications for Michigan residents.
Federal Actions Tracker Raises Stakes for Trump-era Legal Challenges
LANSING, MI – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is escalating her efforts to confront the policies of the Trump Administration, unveiling a new Federal Actions Tracker to inform Michiganders about ongoing legal battles impacting the state.
Launched on the Department of Attorney General’s website, the tracker details lawsuits and legal briefs filed in response to executive orders and federal policies Nessel argues are unlawful and damaging to Michigan residents.
“Left unchallenged, Donald Trump’s unlawful actions would have grave consequences for Michigan,” said Nessel in a public statement. “Michiganders deserve to know how these illegal federal actions affect their lives.”
Federal Legal Push Includes 10 Lawsuits and 17 Supportive Briefs
Since the start of the new Trump Administration term, Nessel’s office has filed 10 lawsuits and joined 17 amicus briefs nationwide to oppose federal policies that she contends infringe on the rights of Michigan residents.
Among the major issues prompting legal response are interruptions to Social Security services, environmental rollbacks, and immigration-related enforcement orders. In tandem with these efforts, Nessel has introduced a new reporting tool for residents experiencing federal service disruptions, aiming to collect documentation to strengthen state-led litigation.
The new online portal is designed to be a transparent dashboard that allows citizens to track actions in real-time and see how legal strategies evolve.
From Research Cuts to Citizenship Denials—Lawsuits Detail Sweeping Federal Impact
The tracker outlines several prominent lawsuits, including:
- New Jersey et al. v. Trump: Filed to stop an executive order that would deny birthright citizenship to some U.S.-born children. Michigan argues the order violates the 14th Amendment, risking the loss of federal healthcare and education funding.
- New York et al. v. Trump: Challenges the pause on federal disbursements—a move Michigan contends violates constitutional obligations and puts billions in state funding at risk.
- Massachusetts v. NIH: Co-led by Michigan, this lawsuit opposes massive cuts to NIH-funded medical research. The University of Michigan alone could lose $181 million, affecting over 425 clinical trials, including cancer research.
- New Mexico et al. v. Musk: Perhaps the most controversial case, this suit contests Elon Musk’s appointment to federal executive authority. Michigan argues it violates the Appointments Clause and enables Musk to interfere with law enforcement, health care, and education funding.
- California et al. v. Trump, Bondi et al.: Filed to block Executive Order No. 14248, which seeks to enforce restrictive voter ID laws nationwide and change how ballots are counted—actions Michigan deems unconstitutional.
Each suit includes links to official AG press releases and complaint PDFs, showcasing the legal reasoning and projected statewide impact.
Federal Lawsuits Could Hit Michigan Education and Libraries Hard
Two other lawsuits highlight threats to Michigan’s public education system and community services:
- Rhode Island et al. v. Trump targets the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and other agencies, which could cost Michigan $4.75 million in library and small business funding.
- New York et al. v. U.S. DOE fights the unlawful termination of COVID relief funds for schools. Michigan argues the cut severs access to $25 million in emergency education aid, harming public school students across the state.
Social Security Access Now Front and Center in Nessel’s Priorities
A growing concern flagged by Nessel’s office is disruption to Social Security benefits. In response, the Attorney General launched a dedicated reporting form for Michiganders who are experiencing difficulties accessing earned benefits or services.
Nessel emphasized the stakes in a statement released with the tracker: “It is my responsibility to defend the rights of our residents and uphold the rule of law.” The form, now available on the AG’s site, encourages residents to document service delays or denied access—data that could fuel further legal action.
This move reflects Nessel’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, especially seniors and low-income citizens who depend on federal programs.
Nessel Tours Michigan to Gauge Impact of Federal Executive Orders
In an unusually public-facing legal campaign, Attorney General Nessel has been touring cities across Michigan to hear from residents firsthand. Her town halls—already held in Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Plymouth, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor, and Flint Township—serve both as public outreach and information gathering.
The Attorney General’s Office announced additional events are scheduled in Lansing, Southfield, and Roseville, where residents can report issues, ask legal questions, and learn more about how the federal actions are being challenged.
Nessel’s strategy reflects a broader movement among Democratic attorneys general nationwide to use state power as a legal check against federal overreach.
Michigan’s Federal Tracker Part of a National Trend of State Pushback
Legal scholars note that the use of state attorney general powers to counter federal action is not new, but has become more pronounced in recent administrations. According to Professor Paul Nolette, a political science expert at Marquette University who tracks state litigation, “Attorneys general have increasingly played a central role in national policymaking, particularly in polarized times.”
Under both the Obama and Trump administrations, state attorneys general have filed record numbers of lawsuits. Nessel’s Federal Actions Tracker marks an effort to democratize access to legal battles, bringing the public into the loop in real time.
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Sources cited:
- Michigan Attorney General Office – April 21, 2025 Federal Actions Tracker Press Release
- Official AG Press Releases for each lawsuit (cited within tracker table)
- University of Michigan NIH research funding data from AG lawsuit summaries
- Nolette, Paul. Federalism on Trial: State Attorneys General and National Policymaking in Contemporary America. University Press of Kansas, 2015.
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