Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed 29 lawsuits against the Trump administration in just six months, targeting everything from electric vehicle funding to immigration rules. Her barrage of legal challenges has sparked questions about priorities and the use of taxpayer resources.
Key Facts:
- Dana Nessel has sued the Trump administration 29 times in six months.
- Lawsuits cover a wide range, including EV charger funding, birthright citizenship, public health grants, and diversity program bans.
- Nessel is challenging Trump over the Line 5 pipeline, which delivers energy to multiple states and is backed by Canada and business groups.
- Michigan has about 82,000 electric vehicles compared to 8 million gasoline or diesel vehicles.
- The U.S. Supreme Court will decide jurisdiction in the Line 5 dispute.
The Rest of The Story:
Nessel’s legal offensive touches nearly every major policy area. She has fought the administration over cuts to federal programs, restrictions on voting, healthcare rules, and environmental policy. Among her high-profile actions is a suit against the suspension of federal funding for EV chargers, which affects Michigan’s push for electric transportation.
Other lawsuits challenge Trump’s orders on citizenship requirements, his authority to dismantle federal agencies, and decisions to terminate billions in health and education grants. In one case, Michigan joined other states to contest a federal ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in education.
The AG has also sued over immigration enforcement, firearm regulations, and reductions in federal mental health funding for schools. Each case frames the administration’s actions as harmful to Michigan residents.
A particularly contentious battle involves the Line 5 pipeline. Nessel and Governor Gretchen Whitmer want it shut down, citing environmental concerns, while Canada and U.S. business groups argue it’s vital for energy supply. The pipeline delivers propane and fuels critical to agriculture and heating in the Midwest.
The fate of Line 5 will hinge on the Supreme Court’s decision over whether the federal or state government has authority to regulate it. Until then, legal wrangling continues on multiple fronts.
Commentary:
If there were an official title for championing an obsession with Donald Trump, Dana Nessel could claim it without competition. Her six-month flurry of lawsuits reads less like governance and more like a political vendetta dressed up as legal action.
When an attorney general spends this much time and taxpayer money on a single political figure, it’s hard not to wonder if the job’s core mission has been sidelined. Michigan faces real challenges — economic competitiveness, infrastructure needs, public safety — yet the state’s top legal officer seems determined to keep her focus on Washington politics.
The EV charger lawsuit is a perfect example. With only 82,000 EVs in a state of 8 million vehicles, funneling energy and resources into that fight feels more like symbolic politics than a genuine push for public benefit.
The Line 5 battle is even more telling. This pipeline supports the energy needs of homes, farms, and industries in multiple states, yet Nessel is fighting to close it without a viable replacement plan. It’s the kind of move that could drive up costs and risk shortages — a political statement that carries real-world consequences.
If Trump proposed a cure for cancer, one might half-expect Nessel to sue for an environmental review before anyone could benefit. The pattern here is clear: opposition for opposition’s sake, regardless of whether it aligns with the state’s best interests.
This approach isn’t just a waste of money; it’s a misuse of the legal system as a partisan tool. Courts exist to resolve genuine disputes, not to stage continuous political theater.
Voters should ask whether this is the leadership Michigan needs. At some point, the priority should shift from scoring points against a political opponent to solving the problems that directly affect Michigan families.
The sooner Michigan moves beyond this cycle of lawsuits, the better its chances of addressing the issues that could actually make the state thrive again.
The Bottom Line:
Dana Nessel’s 29 lawsuits against Trump in six months paint a picture of an attorney general more focused on political combat than state priorities. From EV funding to energy pipelines, her legal targets cover wide ground but often lack immediate benefit to most Michiganders.
With the Supreme Court set to weigh in on Line 5, the cost and consequences of this constant litigation could soon become even clearer. Michigan voters may decide whether they want this fight to continue.
