Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania has joined a coalition of 23 states in a major lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal challenge seeks to block Executive Order 14399, a directive from the White House that critics argue unconstitutionally restricts mail-in voting and usurps state authority over election administration.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, targets a sweeping overhaul of federal election policy. The executive order instructs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver and transmit mail-in ballots only for voters appearing on a new federal “pre-approved” list, while tasking the Department of Homeland Security with verifying voter eligibility nationwide.
Governor Shapiro, joined by Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, characterized the order as an unprecedented federal overreach that violates the Tenth Amendment.
“The U.S. Constitution makes clear that elections are to be run by the states, and here in Pennsylvania, we believe that the administration of elections should be nonpartisan,” Shapiro said in a statement. “The good people of Pennsylvania will vote—whether in person or by mail—and their votes will be counted. Pennsylvanians choose their representatives, not Donald Trump.”
The administration’s order reportedly introduces several new requirements that states claim would cause “chaos and confusion” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections:
Federal Voter Rolls: The creation of a federal “citizenship verification” list that would override existing state voter registries.
USPS Restrictions: A mandate for the Postal Service to block the delivery of ballots to any voter not included on the federal list.
Unique Barcoding: A requirement for specific federal tracking barcodes on all mail-in envelopes.
Funding Threats: Provisions that threaten to withhold federal funding or pursue criminal prosecution against state officials who do not comply with the new federal standards.
The Trump administration has defended the move as a necessary step to ensure election integrity and prevent what it describes as widespread potential for fraud. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the legal challenge on Friday.
“Only Democrat politicians and operatives would be upset about lawful efforts to secure American elections and ensure only eligible American citizens are casting ballots,” Jackson stated.
