LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel has been on a crusade against the president, stacking lawsuits, firing off statements, and positioning herself as the state’s leading anti-Trump warrior.
From pushing back against Trump’s spending freeze to demanding answers about Trump’s cabinet nominees, Nessel seems committed to spending her term as Michigan AG as the D.C. swamp’s loyal defender and the face of Michigan’s anti-Trump resistance. Her relentless stream of emails about the president makes that crystal clear.
Suing over frozen funds.
One of Nessel’s latest attacks on Trump focuses on his executive order to temporarily halt federal financial assistance. The order is aimed at reviewing funding allocations to ensure they align with his policy priorities.
A federal court ruled in favor of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a coalition of 23 attorneys general in this matter recently, enforcing a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from halting nearly $3 trillion in federal funding. The court ordered President Trump and federal agencies to restore funding for essential programs immediately. Nessel called the ruling a victory but vowed to continue the legal fight to ensure the administration complies, calling the attempted funding cut “unprecedented, reckless, and illegal.”
Nessel has followed up on this lawsuit by filing additional legal motions against the Trump Administration for allegedly not complying with a court order to release federal funding. In a ruling on Monday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the Trump administration to “immediately” lift its federal funding pause until he determines whether to impose a longer-term block while the case proceeds.
Fighting against buyouts.
Nessel’s latest crusade? Suing for “defunding medical and public health innovation research” i.e. cutting indirect cost reimbursements to research institution throughout the country – which Michigan News Source reported on. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) had planned to impose a 15% cap on indirect costs, arguing that private foundations, such as the Gates Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, already follow similar limits. Nessel claimed the cap would result in $200 million in lost funding for Michigan universities, warning it could harm ongoing research and job stability.
Nessel Joins Democratic AGs to fight Trump’s ‘deferred resignation’ plan.
Nessel has also teamed up with 20 other Democratic attorneys general to block a Trump administration plan that offers federal employees a so-called “deferred resignation.”
Nessel said in a press release about the executive order, “Michigan is home to tens of thousands of federal employees who serve our communities in a variety of critical ways, from the medical staff at our Veterans Affairs hospitals to the Transportation Security Administration staff who secure our airports, to the National Park Service rangers who preserve Isle Royale.”
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She went on to say, “The offers of an alleged deferred resignation were made across the board without consideration for mission needs or appropriate staffing levels and threaten the Federal government’s ability to provide necessary services to residents. They go so far as to threaten our security. This thinly veiled attempt to replace dedicated public servants with administration loyalists is illegal, harmful, and must not be allowed to stand.”
Demanding answers from FBI nominee.
In another email, Nessel has been sounding the alarm over Trump’s choice for FBI director, Kash Patel, accusing him of trying to dismantle the agency. The real concern? Trump and Patel wanting to hold FBI agents accountable for politically motivated investigations.
“This purge of career law enforcement officials within the FBI for doing their jobs isn’t just political retribution,” Nessel proclaimed. “It is a direct threat to the safety of Michiganders. Gutting resources and forcing out experienced agents will weaken our ability to hold criminals accountable and put our communities at risk. Michigan residents deserve answers.”
Defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Nessel is also raising red flags over the potential shutdown of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), following an order from the Trump administration directing its employees to cease operations. In a newly released video, Nessel highlights the CFPB’s role in protecting consumers from predatory financial practices and warns Michiganders of the consequences if the Bureau is dismantled. She says it will be “terrible” if the agency is shut down.
Big brother Musk?
Not content with just battling Trump, Nessel is also taking aim at Elon Musk. Her complaint? She’s not happy about the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) gaining access to federal financial systems. Nessel said about Musk, “Handing over access to some of the most sensitive and private information about the American people to appointees who have no clearance, no qualifications, and no legitimate reason to have that information, is not only a clear violation of the public’s trust but also an affront to the fundamental rights of every American. It is unlawful, unacceptable and cannot stand.”
So what’s next? A lawsuit over Trump’s choice of breakfast? A legal challenge against the way he ties his shoes? At this rate, Nessel might as well rebrand her office as the Michigan Chapter of the #Resistance. One thing seems obvious: If it involves Trump, Nessel will find a way to sue – and/or send out a press release about how he’s a threat to Democracy, Michiganders and the rest of the country.
Nessel’s opposition to the president, however, might have less to do with principle and more to do with her future ambitions – like a potential Senate run. After all, being a proud Trump resister is practically a prerequisite for any Democrat’s resume.
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