HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — President Donald Trump has frozen about $2 billion of the $49 billion Pennsylvania is expecting from the federal government this year.

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) filed suit to release the money. That’s left some wondering why the newly-elected Attorney General Dave Sunday (R) isn’t handling it.

The frozen items are mostly environmental projects. Nearly $1 billion for mine restoration, water quality management, and $400 million in grants to reduce carbon and greenhouse gases.

In his lawsuit, Shapiro argues that presidents cannot unilaterally halt funding that’s already been approved and appropriated by Congress.

“These are not issues that are up for debate. They were debated,” Shapiro said. “The money was appropriated. The Trump administration is illegally stopping that money from getting to Pennsylvanians. And so I was faced with no other choice.”

The White House dismissed the lawsuit, with Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields saying in a statement to abc27 News: “Radical Leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda.”

“We’re just waiting to see if this goes before a federal judge here in the Philadelphia area,” Shapiro said. “Hopefully he will see the case as we do and release those funds to the people of Pennsylvania who are relying on those dollars.”

In several states, Democrat attorneys general have sued. Shapiro said he wants to get Pennsylvania on board so if judges rule in their favor, the Commonwealth will benefit.

But, Pennsylvania’s newly-elected Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday chose not to directly challenge Trump.

In his own statement, Sunday said he’s being deliberate and the courts will ultimately resolve the issue. Shapiro added that he asked the attorney general to delegate authority to sue and Sunday agreed because Shapiro “has familiarity and expertise regarding the disputed funding and how it is used by the affected agencies, so the appropriate action was to grant the Governor’s request for delegation.”

Shapiro is sure the courts will side with him. Trump is convinced the court of public opinion is on his side.

President Trump has said his administration is “merely looking at parts of the big bureaucracy where there has been tremendous waste and fraud and abuse.”