Washington Attorney General Nick Brown used the release of the office’s 2025 Annual Report to outline a broad first-year agenda focused on protecting residents, strengthening consumer protections and asserting the state’s legal authority amid ongoing legal and policy challenges.
The report offers a detailed look at the work of the Attorney General’s Office, from high-profile legal challenges against the Trump administration to cases targeting scam artists, predatory businesses and criminal activity, while continuing to provide legal guidance that allows state agencies to serve the public effectively.
“This is a time of widespread mistrust in government,” said Brown. “We must endeavor to be the best public law firm in the country. We must show the people that the government works for them.”
A central focus of the office’s work in 2025 was responding to federal actions that threatened critical funding. The Attorney General’s Office filed 49 lawsuits against the federal government, helping protect more than $15 billion tied to education, health care, housing and public safety programs that support families across Washington.
Those funds support essential services, including schools, food assistance for children, access to health care and housing for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. For many Washington residents, particularly those facing economic challenges, these programs serve as a critical safety net, making the office’s legal interventions especially consequential for residents already facing systemic barriers.
The office also continued its core responsibility of providing legal counsel to state government, supporting more than 230 agencies, boards and commissions across all three branches. With nearly 2,000 employees across 13 cities, the office plays a central role in ensuring state operations remain lawful and effective.
Consumer protection remained a major priority. In 2025, the office recovered more than $33 million through enforcement actions and returned more than $18 million to consumers through the Lemon Law program. The Consumer Resource Center handled more than 40,000 complaints, addressing issues such as fraud, deceptive practices and identity-related crimes.
These protections can play a significant role for seniors, working families and communities that are more frequently targeted by scams and predatory financial practices, highlighting the role of the Attorney General’s Office in addressing economic inequities.
The report also highlights efforts to hold businesses accountable for labor violations. The office secured settlements on behalf of farmworkers impacted by misuse of visa programs and pursued additional cases aimed at protecting workers from exploitation.
Housing affordability and renter protections were another key focus. The office took action against companies accused of driving up rental prices through monopolistic practices and secured refunds for tenants who were overcharged, addressing some of the root causes of the state’s housing crisis.
In cities like Seattle, where rising housing costs have disproportionately displaced Black residents and other communities of color, these efforts are closely tied to broader concerns about equity, stability and access to opportunity.
Public safety work included prosecuting more than 70 criminal cases referred by local jurisdictions and securing a conviction in a nearly decade-old case through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit.
The office also expanded support services for vulnerable communities. The HearMeWA youth crisis response program connected young people experiencing stress, violence and abuse with support, while a newly launched statewide hate crimes and bias hotline provides resources and assistance to victims.
These programs reflect a broader focus on addressing gaps in services for youth, marginalized communities and victims of violence who may otherwise face barriers to accessing help.
Brown, the first Black attorney general in Washington state history, has emphasized a leadership approach focused on accountability, equity and delivering measurable outcomes for residents.
“As Attorney General, Nick Brown’s focus is on getting results that benefit Washington State residents and tangibly improve their lives,” the report states.
