Columbus is stepping directly into a national legal fight over federal money and culture-war politics, formally joining Seattle’s lawsuit that challenges President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs and banning federal funds from supporting what the administration calls "gender ideology." City officials say they are trying to protect millions of dollars in federal grants that keep local public health, housing, transportation and other basic services afloat.
City Attorney Zach Klein filed papers on Wednesday to join the Seattle-led case, a move Columbus is describing as part of a broader pushback on the administration’s handling of federal funding, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The Dispatch notes this is Klein’s ninth lawsuit on behalf of the city since Trump returned to the White House.
Seattle’s Complaint
Seattle launched the original lawsuit in U.S. District Court in July 2025, taking direct aim at Executive Orders 14173 and 14168. The city argues that the orders unlawfully slap vague new conditions on federal grants and contracts and could even expose local governments to liability under the False Claims Act, according to the court filing. Seattle is asking the court to declare the orders unlawful and to block any effort to withhold or condition already approved federal grants.
For the full legal argument, the city’s filing is available here: City of Seattle.
What the Orders Say
Executive Order 14168 directs federal agencies to shut down support for what it labels "gender ideology" and states plainly that "Federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology." Executive Order 14173, issued around the same time, rescinds earlier DEI guidance and instructs agencies to rewrite grant conditions, according to the official texts.
The full language of both orders, including how the administration defines "gender ideology" and the instructions for conditioning grants, is posted by the White House for EO 14168 and the White House for EO 14173.
Court Rulings So Far
Federal judges have already started to weigh in on related disputes. A court largely blocked enforcement of the anti-DEI orders in early 2025, and Seattle won a preliminary injunction in October that paused enforcement of the challenged provisions while the case moves forward. As detailed in a statement from the Office of Mayor Bruce Harrell, city leaders argue that the orders put millions of dollars in crucial federal funding for local programs at risk.
Legal Stakes for Columbus
Columbus officials say this is not an abstract constitutional debate, it is a budget problem. A KFF Health News analysis found that the Columbus health department lost roughly $3 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants after the administration’s cutbacks, a hit that city leaders say undermined disease control efforts and forced staffing changes. That analysis was reported by KFF Health News.
On top of the immediate funding losses, Seattle’s lawsuit warns that the new certification requirements tied to the executive orders, combined with the threat of False Claims Act enforcement, could create what the complaint calls "enormous potential exposure" for cities that accept federal money. In practical terms, local governments might be forced to choose between turning down needed grants or accepting money that could come with significant legal risk, as outlined in the filing from the City of Seattle.
What Happens Next
Columbus filed its request on Wednesday to join the case already pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The judge will now decide whether to let the city in as a plaintiff, either through joinder or intervention, and whether any additional emergency relief is warranted.
If the court allows more cities to sign on, the challenge could broaden quickly and potentially speed up a ruling on a core question: can the administration legally condition or strip federal grant money based on these new orders. The answer will matter not just for Columbus and Seattle but for local governments across the country that rely on federal funds, as The Columbus Dispatch notes.
_(2).jpg){kind=link}