Burien, WA – King County has joined a national coalition of local governments in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that federal officials unlawfully imposed new conditions on previously approved federal grants—an action that could have ripple effects for public services in Burien and across the region.
Filed May 2 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, the lawsuit challenges changes made by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to critical grants already awarded to local governments. The conditions in question reportedly concern issues like immigration policy and diversity programs—areas that local officials argue fall outside the authority of federal agencies to mandate unilaterally.
King County Executive Shannon Braddock emphasized the lawsuit’s goal of protecting local autonomy and access to essential services:
“That’s why we are joining other jurisdictions… to ensure the administration can’t disregard congressionally approved processes and bully local governments to comply with their political agenda.”
What’s at Stake for Burien
While the legal action is being led by King County, the potential impacts extend to smaller municipalities, including Burien. Local residents benefit from regional housing and transportation programs funded through the HUD Continuum of Care and the FTA Master Agreement—two of the grant programs directly affected by the policy changes.
According to the lawsuit, if the new conditions are enforced, funding could be delayed, reduced, or revoked entirely. The county asserts that this could disrupt critical services for residents, even though the State legislators just passed record-breaking tax increases for the upcoming budget.
For Burien residents and businesses, this could mean longer transit wait times, reduced support for housing programs, and new administrative burdens for compliance.
The new federal conditions reportedly conflict with existing local and state laws, particularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.
From the KC Executive Office’s statement today,
“The lawsuit filed today also resists efforts by the Trump administration to coerce local governments into accepting unlawful grant conditions. For example, if King County agreed to the administration’s demands to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, any violation of the federal terms could make the county liable to the federal government for three times the amount of the grant — further endangering critical services for county residents.”
Legal Ramifications and Next Steps
The coalition—which includes jurisdictions in Washington state, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio—will seek a temporary restraining order on May 5 to immediately block the new grant conditions. A court ruling is expected by the end of the week.
If the court sides with the plaintiffs, it could prevent the Trump administration from enforcing the contested requirements nationwide. If not, local governments like King County may face difficult decisions about whether to forfeit federal funds or alter local policies to comply.
What Residents Can Expect
For now, no immediate changes are expected in Burien’s public services.
Businesses and community organizations that partner with the city on DEI or housing initiatives may also be affected if the federal conditions are upheld. Local officials are watching the case closely and say they will provide updates as the legal process unfolds.
More information about the lawsuit and its progress can be found at King County’s official website or by attending upcoming County Council meetings.
The complaint can be found online here.
