BOSTON (SHNS) - Warning of "economic hardship" and a possible "constitutional crisis," Attorney General Andrea Campbell delivered a message Thursday for President Donald Trump, who her office has already sued more than half a dozen times. "You have an attorney general, that is like 'bring it on,' " Campbell said during a speech to business leaders, discussing her office's efforts to combat Trump's agenda in his first two months in office. During her prepared remarks, which focused almost entirely on the federal administration, Campbell accused Trump of "operating like a king," saying "I do think the goal is to put more power in the executive branch." As of March 20, Trump has signed over 100 executive orders, which he promised in his inauguration speech would lead to "a complete restoration of America." They range from instituting tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, to crackdowns on illegal immigration and bans on transgender people serving in the military. Trump has also vowed to reshape the federal government and make broad spending cuts to address what he describes as wasteful and fraudulent use of taxpayer dollars. His newly-created Department of Government Efficiency has slashed funding from federal agencies and the direction of his agenda and Republican efforts in Congress have caused state lawmakers to speculate about a reduced flow of money to the states. "If we allow a president or an administration to continue to just chip away, chip away, chip away, and to turn that dial more and more where suddenly laws mean nothing, the constitution means absolutely nothing, there's no checks and balances system, judges mean nothing ... we're in a whole different ballgame," she said at a Greater Boston Business Chamber forum Thursday morning at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. So far, Campbell and other Democratic attorneys general have sued the Trump administration over efforts to end birthright citizenship, a broad federal funding freeze, the Department of Government Efficiency's access to private data, cuts to medical and scientific research, and massive layoffs at the Department of Education meant to serve as a precursor to the elimination of that agency. "What are the consequences, what are the values of the pillars of this country? It's no longer a democracy anymore," Campbell said, describing what she thought would happen if she and others did not stand up to the president, "It's no longer the very things that we say we take for granted — our constitutional society. That will be gone." Campbell isn't the first top prosecutor to gain national influence filing lawsuits against Trump. Her predecessor, now Gov. Maura Healey, sued his former administration 96 times. Reflecting the national political divide, Massachusetts often joins other states where Democrats are in power in filing the suits. Campbell described the Bay State on Thursday as "punching above its weight." "We're not California, New York, but every single decision that involves litigation... we are in every single conversation. And I would say actually, in most of them, we are leading the way. Not just bringing surface level crap. We're drafting the complaints, we're doing the writing, we're doing the legal research," she said. Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, thanked Campbell for providing guidance to businesses about how to navigate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as the Trump administration has set their sights on targeting DEI. The president has said that diversity initiatives are discriminatory, and banned certain DEI programs at federal agencies and government contractors. A White House release called the executive order he signed in January banning DEI in federal contracting "the most important federal civil rights measure in decades." Campbell strongly disagreed with this message Thursday, and implored businesses to continue diversity programs. "This lawyer, this office, has your back, as you look to be courageous and take steps. If you have a target on your back — bring it on," she said. As the attorney general spoke to business leaders, she appealed to their priorities for a strong economy and educated workforce during her speech. She said Trump has not delivered on campaign promises to lower prices and improve the economy, and has in fact raised costs for families during his two months in office. U.S. stock indexes have slumped over the past few weeks as the president appears poised to stick by new tariffs on trade partners, but Trump's team says the volatility will be temporary and an economic boom will be coming later this year following tax cuts. Campbell on Thursday warned that Trump's agenda "if left unchecked, will tank our economy, will absolutely bring about a recession, and worsen economic hardship." "There is a period of transition, because what we're doing is very big," Trump said earlier this month on the Fox News Show "Sunday Morning Futures. "We're bringing wealth back to America. That's a big thing... It takes a little time, but I think it should be great for us." Asked whether he thinks a recession is imminent, Trump said, "I hate to predict things like that." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that there are "no guarantees" there won't be a recession, but that the administration had to focus on "resetting, and... putting things on a sustainable path" after years of overspending and overregulation. “I’m not worried about the markets. Over the long term, if we put good tax policy in place, deregulation and energy security, the markets will do great,” Bessent added. “I say that one week does not the market make.” Campbell warned Trump's policy priorities would hurt the specific makeup of the Massachusetts economy. She pointed to funding cuts the president made to the National Institutes of Health as well as mass layoffs at the Department of Education. There were also reports Thursday morning that Trump intended to sign an executive order that day completely eliminating the Department of Education. "The president is taking action at the very heart of the foundations of our economic system here in Massachusetts, including going after biomedical research and higher education, two of the driving forces of the economy," she said. ...read more read less