As of August 15, 2025, and less than eight months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, the state of Oregon has initiated 36 lawsuits against his administration. This translates to an average of five lawsuits per month since Trump took office in January, which is nearly six times the number filed during the first year of his initial term in 2017.
Oregon is collaborating with numerous other Democratic-led states to spearhead a legal opposition against Trump, with expectations that the state will participate in even more lawsuits. Many of these legal battles are anticipated to take years to resolve.
Dustin Buehler, special counsel to Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, emphasized the state’s commitment to legal action, stating, “If they continue to bypass the law, we will keep suing them. If the rights of Oregonians are at risk, or if federal actions are infringing on Oregon’s values, we will take legal action.”
Among the various lawsuits, Oregon claims that Trump is unconstitutionally leveraging his authority to impose tariffs, obstructing federal funding for Planned Parenthood, sharing Medicaid records of Oregon residents with federal immigration enforcement, and demanding states provide personal information about residents receiving food assistance.
Oregon’s first lawsuit in Trump’s second term was filed just one day after he took office, in response to his executive order revoking birthright citizenship, with the state suing on January 21. Buehler serves as a liaison between the Oregon Department of Justice and a coalition of 21 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, which convenes daily to coordinate efforts on the multitude of multi-state lawsuits filed since Trump returned to power.
There is no limit to the number of times Oregon can sue the federal government. By participating in multi-state legal actions, the state can share litigation costs. Buehler noted the financial benefits of these lawsuits, stating, “These legal actions have saved Oregon over $3.3 billion in federal grants and funding for our state agencies and universities. While there are costs associated with filing these lawsuits, the savings significantly outweigh them. The cost to taxpayers is minimal compared to the overall benefits to Oregon.”
