Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that his office has filed over 50 lawsuits since January 20, 2025, to challenge federal policies under the Trump administration. According to Raoul, these legal actions have protected approximately $6.6 billion in federal funding for Illinois and safeguarded critical programs and services for residents across the state.
“At the core of every action my office has taken, we are fighting to protect the rule of law. This is not an abstract concept; it is the principle that laws are applied in a consistent and predictable manner. The rule of law ensures that the Constitution’s bedrock principles of separation of powers, state sovereignty, democratic accountability, due process and equal protection under the law can be relied upon,” Raoul said. “My team has been working around the clock every day of the week to protect over $6.6 billion, as well as fundamental rights that cannot be quantified in dollars and cents. I commend my talented and hard-working staff for the countless hours they have worked defending our Constitution and preserving vital programs for our residents.”
The lawsuits address a range of issues including birthright citizenship, funding for medical research on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, deployment of the National Guard in Illinois, voter registration requirements, homelessness prevention programs, public health initiatives such as infectious disease laboratories and workplace safety research.
Raoul’s first lawsuit after President Trump took office challenged efforts to end birthright citizenship. He argued this violated constitutional protections; courts agreed with his position. In October 2025, Raoul’s office also sued to prevent federalization and deployment of Illinois’ National Guard without state consent. The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled in December 2025 that “the federal government ‘has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois.’”
Additional ongoing litigation includes efforts to defend agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from being shut down and opposing a proposed 10% tariff on all countries.
Other recent actions include stopping unconstitutional voter registration rules that could have affected more than 66,000 voters in Illinois; protecting grant funding under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) from being tied to immigration enforcement policies; challenging tactics by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed in Chicago; blocking attempts to freeze $1 billion in childcare-related funds serving over 150,000 children; defending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for nearly two million recipients; supporting disaster mitigation projects; maintaining access to Planned Parenthood health services; safeguarding gender-affirming care for transgender youth; preventing illegal modifications turning semi-automatic weapons into machine guns; preserving education grants affecting over 1.85 million students statewide.
Environmental protection was also a focus through litigation aimed at renewable energy projects such as wind power development and electric vehicle charging infrastructure—supporting Illinois’ goal for one million electric cars by 2030—and upholding clean water regulations.
“When I took my oath to serve as Illinois’ Attorney General, I swore to uphold and defend the United States and Illinois Constitutions; however, I could never have envisioned defending the rule of law and our state’s sovereignty against constant attacks by the United States government,” Raoul said. “I will not hesitate or shy away from protecting our state – even from our own federal government. Our work has just begun, and we are undeterred in our commitment to fighting, advocating and believing our justice system will protect the rule of law and the legal rights of Illinois residents.”
The Attorney General’s office acts as Illinois’ primary legal officer with offices across Chicago, Springfield, Carbondale and throughout other locations. Its responsibilities include upholding laws related to consumer protection,advocating for vulnerable groups such as workers or immigrants, handling thousands of consumer complaints annually,partnering with law enforcementto support crime victims,offering complaint filing servicesfor fraud or civil rights violations,and promoting environmental conservation.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul stated his office remains committed going forward: “Our work has just begun.”
