Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser—backed by a state legislature that actually earmarked taxpayer dollars in the budget to bankroll this maneuver—joined 20 other states in suing the Trump administration over its use of an OMB “termination for convenience” clause to yank billions in federal grant funding. The lawsuit, filed in Boston, targets cuts to community policing grants, electric‐vehicle infrastructure funds, and a host of other programs, arguing that pulling the rug out on awarded grants “on a whim” exceeds any plausible congressional intent.
Here’s the kicker: Colorado’s own General Assembly literally set aside money in this year’s budget so Weiser could sue the president for trying to save taxpayer dollars. We’re using our hard‐earned tax payments to challenge an administration attempting to enforce fiscal discipline. If that isn’t political theater worthy of a standing ovation, what is?
Let’s take a look at why this lawsuit is less about “protecting Colorado” and more about preserving a bloated grant‐dependent bureaucracy:
- Trump’s Prudent Budget Control
The “termination for convenience” clause exists so any administration can walk away from grant programs that no longer fit its policy priorities—or that lack sustainable funding. When federal relief funds dry up, it’s far better to redirect resources than force states to live on one‐time cash. If Colorado’s public‐health agencies and EV projects can’t stand on their own without annual bailouts, perhaps they shouldn’t have been built purely on federal handouts. - Polis’s Spending Spree
Under Governor Polis, Colorado agencies have gorged on every grant in sight. CDPHE alone ballooned its full‐time staff by roughly 33%—adding over 300 positions—relying heavily on COVID and “equity” grants. Now that a dozen jobs are being cut, the unions belt out their familiar refrain of “public‐health crisis.” Spare us. Maybe the real scandal is hiring waves of grant‐hungry bureaucrats with no exit plan for one‐off funding.
Sidenote/Fun Fact:
Colorado’s state‐government headcount has exploded in the six years since Polis has been Gov:
– June 30, 2019: Colorado employed 101,931 state‐level workers (all branches, FTE and non-FTE combined) (spl.cde.state.co.us).
– May 2025: Bureau of Labor Statistics data show roughly 153,000 payroll jobs in “State Government in Colorado” (fred.stlouisfed.org).
That’s an increase of about 51,000 positions—nearly 50% growth—even before you count the additional field staff and contractors hired under COVID and “equity” grant programs. Guv. Polis just loves him some big, bloated, centralized government. If the legislature can find money to sue the president over cutting one-time grants, it surely has the power to rein in this kind of permanent headcount boom. - Taxpayers Funding Lawsuits Against Savings
The legislature’s decision to appropriate taxpayer money specifically for this lawsuit is galling. Coloradans are already wrestling with skyrocketing property taxes and worker‐mandate costs. Yet here we are diverting precious state funds into a courtroom spectacle because some entrenched interests can’t bear the thought of losing a federal dime. This isn’t “standing up for Colorado”—it’s a taxpayer‐funded stunt to keep the grant gravy train rolling. - Local Solutions Over Federal Bailouts
Meanwhile, counties like Weld, El Paso, and Mesa manage vital public‐health and infrastructure programs with leaner teams and balanced budgets—often, er, always without suing the president. We innovate funding models, trim non‐essential roles, and live within our means. That’s the true conservative spirit: limited government that empowers local control, not endless legal challenges to protect Washington‐dependent spending.
My Bottom Line:
President Trump’s grant‐cutting drive forces a long‐overdue reality check on Colorado’s grant-hunting, union-fuelled spending binge. Instead of wielding lawsuits to prop up every federal dollar, our state leaders should audit their agencies, tie permanent staffing to reliable revenue streams, and stop treating one-time grants as entitlements. If you believe in limited government, fiscal discipline, and putting taxpayers first, it’s past time to call this lawsuit what it is: political theater at the expense of Colorado families.
