Attorney General James Stops Trump Administration’s Attempt to Gut Social Services

September 21, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after winning her lawsuit stopping the federal administration's unlawful attempt to gut essential health, education, and social service programs for low-income families:

"From cancer screenings to food banks to early childhood education, the federal government's attempts to decimate the social safety net would have been catastrophic for working families. We fought back, and today a federal court ruled that this cruel and unjust policy of deprivation is unlawful and cannot stand.

"I am proud to fight for working families and will continue to do everything in my power to ensure New Yorkers have the support they need."

In July 2025, the federal government announced a new policy redefining broad swaths of federally funded programs as restricted "federal public benefits," now subject to immigration verification under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The new policy meant critical safety net programs would have to check the immigration status of every person they serve, and turn away any person who could not verify their status. Providers would have been prohibited from helping undocumented immigrants, but also some people with legal status, including student visa holders, temporary workers, and exchange visitors. In addition, the attorneys general warned in their lawsuit that even U.S. citizens and lawful residents could be denied services, as many low-income individuals or individuals fleeing dangerous situations lack government-issued identification.

Attorney General James led 20 other attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging the policy and secured a preliminary injunction in September 2025. Today, a federal court granted Attorney General James and the coalition's motion for summary judgment, vacating the administration's sweeping rules that threatened programs like Head Start, Title X family planning clinics, food banks, domestic violence shelters, adult education, and community health centers.