Republicans in New York have expressed anger over a state budget proposal that could give state employees funds to cover themselves if President Donald Trump‘s Department of Justice pursues litigation against them.

The budget plan does not mention New York Attorney General Letitia James by name, but the budget sets aside $10 million to cover private defense costs for state employees who may be subject to federal investigation. The budget states that the funds are only made available so long as the investigation is “reasonably likely to have been commenced” because of that employee’s work.

Recommended Stories

• Former Michigan National Guardsman arrested over attempted ISIS-linked attack on military base: DOJ
• Judge blocks DOJ from canceling grants to American Bar Association for suing Trump administration
• Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan files motion to dismiss obstruction case citing Trump decision

Republicans in the state are asking New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli not to sign off on the $10 million.

“This proposed use of public money is a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars. It undermines public trust in government and sends a troubling message that elected officials and state employees are entitled to a publicly-funded legal defense, even for matters entirely disconnected from their public responsibilities,” state senate Republicans wrote to DiNapoli in a letter obtained by the New York Post.

The letter was signed by State Senate Minority Leader Republican Robert Ortt and 21 other Republican state senators.

LETITIA JAMES SUBJECT OF ETHICS COMPLAINT TO NEW YORK STATE COURTS AFTER CRIMINAL REFERRAL

The notion in New York’s budget comes after Trump’s DOJ launched a “working group” designed to investigate James and other legal officials who have investigated Trump over the years. The Justice Department recently launched a criminal investigation into allegations that James engaged in mortgage fraud when purchasing homes in New York and Virginia.

James’s lawyer told CBS News that the investigation “appears to be the political retribution President Trump threatened to exact that AG Bondi assured the Senate would not occur on her watch. If prosecutors are genuinely interested in the truth, we are prepared to meet false claims with facts.”