WASHINGTON D.C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine joined a coalition of attorneys general from the District and 18 states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s abrupt decision to stop making healthcare subsidy payments required by the federal Affordable Care Act. That harsh action violates the law and will lead to higher insurance costs, putting health coverage for over 6 million Americans at risk.

“We have joined this lawsuit because many District residents depend on these subsidies, and because we believe in affordable, quality health care for them and all Americans,”Attorney General Racine said. “We believe the President’s action is unlawful, and state attorneys general will continue to serve as a check and balance against improper and destructive actions by this administration.”

The Affordable Care Act’s mandatory cost-sharing reduction payments help working families access more affordable healthcare coverage by helping individuals with incomes between $11,880 and $29,700 enroll in plans with lower deductibles, copayments or coinsurance, reducing their out-of-pocket costs.

A copy of the complaint is available here, and a fact sheet about it is here. The coalition was led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. In addition to Attorney General Racine and Attorney General Becerra, joining the suit were attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington state.