It’s been a whirlwind six months since Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown entered office. Since January, Brown has roared like a general into battle against the “lawlessness” of President Donald Trump and his administration. Brown has filed or joined 20 lawsuits against the administration, including Trump’s:
- ban of birthright citizenship,
- cuts to federal funding for medical institutions that provide gender-affirming care to transgender youth,
- intent to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and
- cancellation of federal grants that would disrupt critical medical and public health research.
The goal in all this legal activity, Brown has said, is the same: to force the president and his administration to “follow the damn law.”
“No state is immune from these harms, and it’s my responsibility to fight,” Brown said.
We recently had the opportunity to ask Attorney General Brown a few questions about his work on behalf of the state’s children, families, and other residents. The following is an excerpt from that dialogue.
Seattle’s Child: How do you frame the big-picture concerns behind the lawsuits you’ve filed on behalf of Washingtonians?
Attorney General Nick Brown: With every case, our office looks at three criteria: Is the action by the government unconstitutional or illegal? Are Washington and Washingtonians harmed? Is the state the right party to get involved?
What’s true in every statement Trump makes, is that he attacks everyone who doesn’t look like him or think like him, while stealing from anti-poverty programs, from health services, and from thousands of public servants who just want to put in honest work where they’re needed.
Trump and his talking heads talk about federal programs like they don’t serve real people. They talk about the people who deliver these services like they’re drones. They diminish life-saving health programs and economic supports as “freebies.” It seems the only people they think the government should support — the only people who deserve economic opportunity — are the ultra-wealthy.
You’re a public servant and a dad. How do these legal battles resonate with you personally?
I never imagined being in the position of having to constantly defend Americans from their own president. But that is the sad reality of this current moment.
What’s at stake when it comes to cuts to public education?
Knowledge is power, and cuts to learning, or libraries and museums, are intended to take invaluable learning opportunities from students. These cuts deprive millions of people from programs that give them a path to supporting themselves and sharing in the country’s economic growth.
[Trump’s] essentially dismantling the Department of Education, with a curious focus on gutting programs for students with special needs and disabilities. He’s eviscerating civil rights programs that protect students from discrimination and sexual assault. He’s making it harder to access financial aid. It’s crucial we stop this assault as soon as possible.
Which families are the most impacted by Trump’s bans and cuts?
These lawless actions harm everyone, but it’s fair to say the consequences of this administration’s actions will fall hardest on Black people and other people of color, immigrants, women, those living in poverty, those with disabilities, and those whose gender identities or sexual orientation are caught up in the conservative culture war. I encourage people to visit atg.wa.gov to find our complaints.
Looking ahead, what lawsuit outcomes would you consider victories?
Victory in court is just one part of the battle. Right now, there are services people use every day that are at threat to just disappear overnight – like funding for education, libraries, small businesses, and of course health. If we do our jobs well enough, people may not realize there’s been huge victories preserving some things that maybe never went away because we acted before the administration could dismantle certain programs.
We need to win back enough ground where we’re not in this defensive posture against the forces of lawlessness and we’re actually making proactive change that helps people.
What can parents do to help you in the work of fighting back?
We all have a role in supporting each other in times of uncertainty. Let’s choose not to obey in advance. Let’s all help take care of each other. Let’s get to work in our communities. Let’s parse out the truth from misinformation. Let’s come together to fight for what’s right.
