Congressman Andy Harris’ criticism of Governor Wes Moore regarding Maryland’s legal challenges against the Trump administration reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of fiscal responsibility and the role of our attorney general in protecting state interests.
Harris suggests that if Maryland can fund litigation, it should fund Key Bridge reconstruction without federal assistance. This false equivalency ignores the substantial return on investment these lawsuits deliver for Maryland taxpayers. At a cost of only $1 million annually, the Office of the Attorney General’s Federal Accountability Unit (FAU) has secured the release of hundreds of millions of dollars in wrongfully withheld federal funds.
For instance, Maryland’s participation in a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration’s education funding freeze restored over $110 million in federal education funding for Maryland schools — a massive return on legal resources invested, ensuring critical programs for English learners, migrant students and teachers can continue.
Additional FAU victories since January 2025 include:
AmeriCorps protection: Maryland led a 24-state lawsuit (plus Washington, D.C.) that blocked the Trump administration’s dismantling of AmeriCorps, preserving over $12 million in federal funding for Maryland’s programs. This preserved services supporting hundreds of AmeriCorps members across 26 programs, including the ASTAR program at Frostburg State University.
Health and Human Services programs: Maryland joined a challenge blocking Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to terminate thousands of HHS employees and dismantle critical programs.
Privacy protection: Maryland successfully challenged illegal data sharing between HHS and Homeland Security that would have compromised Medicaid recipients’ privacy rights.
Congress approved federal funding for the Key Bridge’s restoration through bipartisan legislation known as the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act. As Senate President Bill Ferguson noted, “This isn’t just a regional bridge. This is a national asset.”
Meanwhile, Maryland’s legal challenges operate under the Maryland Defense Act of 2017, requiring only $1 million annually for a federal litigation team. These documented returns demonstrate this is among Maryland’s most cost-effective investments.
Our FAU’s lawsuits protect billions in federal funding that Maryland taxpayers already paid through federal taxes. When the Trump administration unlawfully withholds congressionally approved funds, Maryland has legal authority and fiscal responsibility to seek court redress.
Harris’ suggestion that Maryland should choose between defending constitutional rights and receiving federal infrastructure funding presents a false choice. Both are legitimate government functions, and Maryland demonstrates exceptional success in both areas.
Governor Moore’s administration effectively manages state resources while defending Maryland’s interests. Documented financial returns prove this approach benefits every Maryland family and business.
— Anthony G. Brown, Baltimore
Brown is Maryland’s attorney general.
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