Attorney General Neronha, coalition secure permanent injunction to protect libraries, workers, and small businesses

Published on Friday, November 21, 2025

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha released the following statement after the United States District Court in Rhode Island issued a permanent injunction against the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of four federal agencies that provide services and funding to public libraries and museums, organized labor, small businesses, and agencies working with the homeless.  The Court held that the Trump Administration “acted without constitutional or statutory authority” in attempting to dismantle these agencies.

“In courts across the country and here in Rhode Island, we continue to find that we are right on the law and right on the principle,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Each of these agencies serve a vital role that the President cannot simply erase with the stroke of a pen. With this order, these four agencies can continue to serve our communities, whether through your neighborhood library, labor dispute arbitration, or support for small businesses. In each case we bring against this Administration, we are standing up for Rhode Islanders to preserve the resources they rely on, and we will continue to do so every time Rhode Islanders’ rights are threatened.”

The final ruling follows multistate litigation and a preliminary injunction.

Attorney General Neronha co-led this lawsuit with Attorney General Letitia James of New York and Attorney General Anne Lopez of Hawaii. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

###