NY AG Sues DHS Over Illegal Cut to MTA’s $33M Security Fund

New York – In a stunning move, New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed an emergency lawsuit against Secretary Kristi Noem and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), accusing them of illegally withholding $33 million in transit security funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The AG’s office demands a temporary restraining order to prevent the funds from being diverted to other states, arguing that this cut threatens New York City’s safety and constitutes political retaliation.

James accused DHS of arbitrarily slashing the MTA’s award from nearly $34 million to zero, purportedly due to New York’s ‘sanctuary’ policies. The MTA had anticipated receiving $33,898,500, but received no formal notice before learning of the cut through a news report.

Without immediate court intervention, the funds will be lost forever at midnight, cutting off critical resources for protecting against terrorist threats and cyberattacks in the nation’s busiest transit system. The MTA had planned to use these funds for upgrading surveillance systems, strengthening cybersecurity defenses, and enhancing emergency evacuation protocols.

The lawsuit claims that DHS’s actions are a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, exceed statutory authority, and violate equal sovereignty principles under the Constitution. James emphasized that her immediate goal is to preserve the funds while the courts address the case.

This latest battle over MTA funding underscores the ongoing debate between federal agencies and state governments on immigration and security policies, placing New York’s transit system and millions of daily riders in a dangerous limbo.

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