James Sues DHS Over $33M MTA Terror Funds Cut

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James went on the offensive today, filing a lawsuit and an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Secretary Kristi Noem and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The target? An unlawful withholding of $33,898,500 in federal funding requested by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) under the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). The move, according to James, is a blatant attempt to punish New York for its “sanctuary” policies, leaving millions of New Yorkers vulnerable to attack.

The clock is ticking. The federal fiscal year ends at midnight tonight, and James is demanding immediate court intervention to preserve the funds before DHS can divert them to other states. “New Yorkers lived through the worst terrorist attack in our nation’s history, and we know what is at stake here,” James stated. “Congress created this program after 9/11 to protect millions of daily riders. I am asking the court to act before midnight to stop these funds from vanishing and to ensure that New Yorkers are not put at risk by this administration’s political games.”

Established in the aftermath of 9/11, the TSGP is designed to bolster security in high-risk transit systems like the MTA. Eligibility is supposed to be based “solely on risk.” The MTA, handling nearly 40 percent of all U.S. transit riders and facing one of the highest threat profiles in the nation, has historically been the program’s biggest beneficiary, receiving $36 million last year. DHS initially approved a $33,898,500 award for this year, then abruptly slashed it to zero, redirecting the money to states with demonstrably lower risk profiles.

The gutting of New York’s funding wasn’t even delivered with basic courtesy. State officials learned of the decision this morning at 11:00 AM, not from DHS or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but from a news report. Despite repeated inquiries throughout the day, the MTA has received no formal notice or explanation. The planned use of the $33,898,500 included strengthening station and tunnel security against chemical and explosive threats, upgrading surveillance and communication systems, bolstering cybersecurity, and improving emergency evacuation protocols – all vital to protecting a system serving over five million daily riders.

If the funds lapse at midnight, they’re gone for good. James’ TRO motion seeks a court order to compel DHS to de-obligate any diverted funds, prevent disbursement or return of the money to the Treasury, and suspend the statutory lapse, allowing the funds to be properly awarded to New York as required by law. James stressed she isn’t asking for immediate disbursement, only preservation of the funds while the courts decide the case. The lawsuit, filed this evening in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, argues DHS’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, exceed statutory authority, and violate constitutional principles of equal sovereignty.

This isn’t just about money; it’s about a calculated risk to public safety. The MTA is a prime target, and stripping it of vital security funding, based on political retaliation, is a dangerous gamble. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and expose the truth behind this blatant act of federal overreach. The court is expected to rule on the TRO before midnight.

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