On January 20, 2026, the State of Washington voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) termination of two awards of funding that the State alleged it was “relying on to help communities disproportionately exposed to the adverse effects of climate change become more resilient.” The federal district court for the Western District of Washington had granted the State’s request for a preliminary injunction barring termination of the awards in October 2025. A spokesperson for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office told <a href="https://www.law360.com/articles/2432666/washington-drops-9m-climate-fund-suit-against-noaa">Law360</a> that the State “decided to reevaluate this case in light of the ever-changing legal landscape surrounding funding terminations” and that the State continued to believe the termination of the awards was unlawful and would challenge such unlawful actions “in all available forums.”

State of Washington's challenge to termination of two awards of federal funding that the State alleged it was “relying on to help communities disproportionately exposed to the adverse effects of climate change become more resilient.”

Washington v. U.S. Department of Commerce

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Washington Voluntarily Dismissed Challenge to Termination of Climate Resilience Funding

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State of Washington's challenge to termination of two awards of federal funding that the State alleged it was “relying on to help communities disproportionately exposed to the adverse effects of climate change become more resilient.” 

Washington Voluntarily Dismissed Challenge to Termination of Climate Resilience Funding

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