Maryland Wins Legal Challenge Protecting Fair Housing Enforcement Funding and State Civil Rights Protections

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The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) and Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown have announced a victory in a multistate lawsuit safeguarding federal Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) funding from unlawful restrictions.


Key Outcomes of the Settlement

* Federal Conditions Withdrawn: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, confirming that the contested FY 2025 Funding Guidance is no longer in effect and will not be applied to FY 2026 funding or included in future guidance.

* Funding Guaranteed: Crucial FHAP grant funding administered by HUD will continue to flow to Maryland without federal interference or ideological conditions.

* Preservation of Expanded State Protections: The settlement protects MCCR’s authority to enforce Maryland laws that cover protected classes beyond federal baseline standards—including protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, military status, and marital status.


Background on the Legal Challenge

* Lawsuit Origin: Filed in March 2026 by Maryland and a coalition of 16 other attorneys general, the lawsuit challenged federal guidance that threatened to strip FHAP funding from states with broader civil rights protections than federal standards.

* The Multistate Coalition: Led by Maryland, the coalition included attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Full announcements and civil rights enforcement resources can be accessed directly via the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Bulletin.

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