The Michigan Department of Attorney General (DAG) works tirelessly to protect and serve the people of Michigan. The DAG handles a wide range of legal matters from civil and criminal cases, to providing legal counsel to state agencies and officers, to advocating for crime victims.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General utilizes the services of Special Assistant Attorneys General from time to time when the unique circumstances of a particular case create the need for specialized services not currently available within the department.
The Michigan Attorney General has determined that a full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what, and when.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) investigates claims of innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense.
In Michigan, a victim is an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.
Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues.
An expungement is a way to remove past offenses from your public record. Expansions under the “Clean Slate” laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors, excluding certain assault or weapons offenses and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
To investigate and prosecute hate crimes by following up on every credible tip and offer departmental resources to assist local and federal law enforcement partners in this effort.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan. Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Knowing how to guard your personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft.
Michigan workers enjoy a wide variety of legal protections regarding issues at work. There are a number of state and federal statutes that protect their wages, safety, and well-being.
Opioid addiction knows no social or economic barriers; it doesn’t care about race or gender. It claims young and old alike. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is committed to fighting this crisis.
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, provides that requesters can receive copies or make inspections of most public records of public bodies upon written request.
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December 26, 2025
LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently secured an order (PDF) from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon blocking the Trump administration from imposing illegal terms upon two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants. In November, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel led a coalition of 12 states in filing a lawsuit against Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary David Richardson, and FEMA for unlawfully interfering with grants already promised to the states for emergency management, disaster relief, and homeland security operations. The Michigan Department of Attorney General personally litigated the coalition’s arguments before the Court earlier this month.
“The Trump administration has shown time and again a disregard for the rule of law and for the safety of the people they are meant to serve,” Nessel said. “I am relieved the Court has halted these illegal actions and ensured our communities receive the FEMA funding they were promised. Assistant Attorney General Neil Giovanatti personally argued this case before the Court, and his professionalism, skill, and dedication were instrumental to this outcome. I am proud of his work and the work my office does every day to protect the rights of Michiganders and the critical resources they depend on.”
Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has attempted to reduce FEMA’s role and shift the burden of emergency management to the States by denying or restricting requests for emergency declarations, withholding grant funding, and imposing irrelevant and unconstitutional terms on recipients of long-standing FEMA grants. Many of these illegal actions have been successfully challenged in court, and a previous case resulted in more than $100 million reimbursed to the Michigan State Police.
In this case, the coalition successfully argued that the Trump administration included illegal and impossible-to-meet grant terms in the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) that departed from past practice and served only as obstacles to States obtaining and using the funding.
These grants fund a substantial portion of the State’s emergency management apparatus, including the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division within the Michigan State Police. They also provide federal funding to states to assist with homeland security and terrorism prevention, like active shooter trainings for law enforcement and school personnel in Michigan, as well as local police support for the Secret Service and operational overtime for State Troopers.
The federal government had placed an improper funding hold on one grant and changed the timeline for the expenditure of funding under both grants. The Court found that these terms violated the Administrative Procedures Act in several respects. Specifically, the hold on the EMPG exceeded Defendants’ statutory authority, was contrary to law, and was arbitrary and capricious. Likewise, the changed timeline for both grants was arbitrary and capricious because FEMA disregarded the States’ reliance interests and did not explain the change. By imposing these terms, the Trump administration inappropriately restricted the states’ ability to use the funding as anticipated—including for past and future projects that fall within the scope of the grant programs. In its December 23 order, the Court vacated the challenged terms and entered permanent injunctive relief barring FEMA from imposing the terms.
Joining Attorney General Nessel in securing this order are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Hawai’i, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin, as well as the Governor of Kentucky.
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