A federal judge has delivered a significant blow to the Trump administration's policy of withholding vital security funding from states that do not align with its immigration enforcement agenda. The ruling blocks the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from cutting more than $230 million in federal grants destined for seven states and the District of Columbia.
Judge Condemns "Wanton Abuse" of Grant Administration
In a strongly-worded 48-page decision, US District Judge Mary McElroy of Rhode Island ruled on Monday that the administration's actions were unlawful. Judge McElroy, who was appointed by President Trump in 2018, stated the case represented "another example" of the administration tying crucial state and local government assistance to its immigration crackdown.
She wrote: "Defendants’ wanton abuse of their role in federal grant administration is particularly troublesome given the fact that they have been entrusted with a most solemn duty: safeguarding our nation and its citizens." The judge emphasised that the funding supports essential counter-terrorism and law enforcement programmes, which are far from abstract bureaucratic concerns.
Vital Counter-Terrorism Funds at Stake
The contested grants form part of approximately $1 billion in annual funds allocated to states and local governments to bolster their defences against terrorism. The states affected by the proposed cuts are Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, alongside Washington D.C.
Judge McElroy pointed to concrete examples of how this money is used, specifically citing the Brown University mass shooting. In that incident, a gunman killed two people and injured nine others, with federal grant money likely aiding the law enforcement response. "To hold hostage funding for programs like these based solely on what appear to be Defendants’ political whims is unconscionable and, at least here, unlawful," she concluded.
Coalition of States Hails "Significant Win"
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 12 attorneys general from the impacted states. They have hailed Judge McElroy's decision as a major victory for public safety and the rule of law.
New York Attorney General Letitia James stated: "Law enforcement and local leaders throughout New York depend on these funds to keep New Yorkers safe. The administration’s attempt to play politics with these resources was illegal and put our state at risk. This decision is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers from reckless funding cuts."
Despite this judicial setback, the Department of Homeland Security has indicated, according to a report by Axios, that it intends to appeal the decision. The legal battle over the conditioning of federal security aid on cooperation with immigration enforcement policies is therefore set to continue.
