James Sues DHS Over $100M Funding Grab

NEW YORK – The federal government is holding communities hostage, and New York Attorney General Letitia James is fighting back. James today joined a coalition of 11 other state attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), accusing the agency of illegally diverting critical funds from states refusing to fully cooperate with the administration’s aggressive deportation agenda. The stakes are high: New York alone faces a loss of over $100 million in FEMA grants vital for law enforcement, emergency preparedness, and counter-terrorism.

The lawsuit alleges DHS, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is engaging in blatant coercion. Funds earmarked for essential programs – training for first responders, bolstering security along the Canadian border, protecting vital infrastructure like power grids and water systems – are being slashed. The administration, according to the complaint, is punishing states for upholding their own values and refusing to become extensions of federal immigration enforcement. This isn’t about border security; it’s about political leverage, and New Yorkers are paying the price.

“The federal government is putting our communities at risk in an attempt to illegally force states to support its attacks on immigrants,” Attorney General James stated bluntly. “Our law enforcement and local leaders depend on these FEMA grants to prepare for emergencies and stop dangerous threats to public safety. I will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers, and I won’t allow this administration to play political games with critical resources that keep our communities safe.” The funds at risk aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; they directly impact the NYPD and FDNY through the Urban Area Security Initiatives (UASI) program, funding vital training and planning for high-risk areas of New York City.

This isn’t the first battle. In May, James led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in a suit to block new DHS conditions tying emergency funding to immigration enforcement. They scored a victory on September 24, with a court ruling the DHS actions unlawful and unconstitutional. But the administration, undeterred, has doubled down, now directly reallocating funds from the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). New York has seen a staggering 77 percent reduction in HSGP funding – over $100 million vanished with no legitimate justification.

The lawsuit argues that DHS provided absolutely no explanation for the eleventh-hour redirection of funds as the federal fiscal year draws to a close. This, James and her colleagues contend, is a clear violation of both the law authorizing HSGP and the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires transparency and reasoned decision-making from federal agencies. They’re demanding a court order to immediately halt the fund reallocation and restore the full amount to New York and other targeted states.

Joining James in this fight are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. The message is clear: this administration won’t get away with using public safety as a bargaining chip in its political battles. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, exposing the truth behind these dangerous funding games.”

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