Lawsuit show how Sherrill is resisting Trump policy
By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... During her 2025 campaign, Governor Mikie Sherrill made it clear that she intended to resist the Trump administration's agenda when in harmed New Jersey.
.....
Sherrill reiterated that she would work to protect New Jersey residents' access to their rights when she took office.
..... And from the beginning, the governor's selection for attorney general has dun the same. Attorney General Jennifer Davenport was questioned about her commitments to suing the administration during her confirmation hearing with the state Senate in February. [2026]
..... "With respect to federal facing litigation, what drives me are two primary considerations: One, is here a violation of the law, and two, what is it doing - is ti harming the folks of New Jersey? Because that's most important," she said at the time.
..... New Jersey under Attorney General Matt Platkin mounted a significant legal resistance to the Trump administration and policies that affect New Jersey residents' rights,, access to health care and education funding.
..... Davenport wasted no time picking up where her predecessor left off. New jersey is a party to at least a dozen lawsuits and appeals filed against various federal agencies and departments, including those overseeing, transportation, health and homeland security.
..... Here's a look at how those suits have unfolded in the first six months of Sherrill's term:
January
* The state stayed involved in a suit the Trump administration appealed that was brought against the administration for calling on several agencies to eliminate programs hat were not statutorily required.
February
* New Jersey sued the federal Transportation Department after the Gateway Tunnel funding was frozen.
* New Jersey was among the states to file suit against the Department of Health and Human Services over potential changes to the childhood immunization schedule. The changes came from Secretary Robert F, Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activists.
* The Gardner State was also involved in a lawsuit against the Department of Energy and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for cuts to congressionally approved energy infrastructure funding.
March
* The state teamed up with Roxbury Township to sue the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the potential ICE detention center in that town.
* New Jersey was one of the states to file suit against the Trump administration for imposing tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court rule that the president doesn't have the authority to do so.
* The state became involved in a lawsuit against the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which it alleged was trying to do away with polices that prevent housing discrimination under the Fair Housing act enforcement Policy.
* New Jersey remained part of a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for changes to policy that it alleged would cerate a more harmful environment for residents.
* The state was part of a coalition to sue the Agriculture Department regarding changes to the rules for receiving federal grants, cooperative agreements and mural interest agreements. The coalition alleged that the new conditions threatened essential programs, including nutrition assistance, agricultural support forestry and fire prevention.
*New Jersey also became part of a lawsuit against the Education Department about the release of student data, namely the required detailed reporting of admissions data - including information concerning race, ethnicity, gender, family income, parental education and other demographic factors - by colleges.
April
* New Jersey was one of the 24 states that file suit against the Trump administration alleging an executive order signed by the president would disenfranchise voters by not allowing the postal service to deliver ballots.
May
* New Jersey was among 25 states to sue the Education Department for cutting back the graduate programs that qualify for higher federal student loan limits, alleging that it violates the congressional definition of "professional degree."
June
* New Jersey maintained its position that there should not be an additional fee imposed on H-1B visas after the federal government appealed a decision in a case from last year [2025] against the Department of Homeland Security.
* The state sued the Department of the Interior for canceling an offshore wind lease.
* New Jersey was one of 19 states that sued 28 federal departments over potentially discriminating against minorities in their hiring practices with the repeal of previous protections.
..... Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com