Attorney General Raoul Files Emergency Lawsuit To Protect Critical Homeland Security Funding From Politically Motivated Cuts
Illinois leads 12 states suing over homeland security fund cuts based on compliance with Trump administration.
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from unlawfully reallocating federal homeland security funding away from states based on their compliance with the administration’s political agenda.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
On Saturday, without any notice or explanation, and four days before the end of the federal fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) significantly cut funding to certain states that are unwilling to divert law enforcement resources away from core public safety services to assist in enforcing federal immigration law while reallocating those funds to other states. The move came days after Raoul secured a permanent injunction along with an opinion holding that the agencies violated the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by conditioning all federal funds from FEMA and DHS on states’ agreement to assist the federal government in enforcing federal immigration law.
“The Trump administration is jeopardizing the safety of Americans in a chaotic and illegal attempt to coerce states into compliance with the president’s political agenda,” Raoul said. “Congress approved this funding with the understanding that our nation is at its strongest when all Americans, everywhere, are protected from terrorism. I ask the court to block this unlawful action.”
Many of the grant programs administered by DHS and FEMA were authorized by Congress in the wake of national emergencies, such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, to strengthen the nation’s preparedness for and response to emergencies and major disasters. These grants fund first responders’ salaries, pay for the training they receive, and support the mutual aid networks that allow them to mobilize when tragedy strikes. They also support crucial efforts to prepare for and prevent disasters, such as computer network testing to identify cyberattack vulnerabilities. For decades, administrations of both parties have operated these programs evenhandedly, supporting all 50 states in their efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies and threats.
On Saturday, FEMA issued the award notifications for its single largest grant program, the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), which allocates approximately $1 billion in funds annually for state and municipal efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism. FEMA granted only $226 million to the states filing today’s lawsuit. This was a $233 million, or 51%, reduction from the total amount that FEMA had previously stated it would provide to these states.
Some states saw even sharper cuts. For instance, Illinois received a 69% reduction in funds, totaling over $30 million. New York received a 79% reduction in funds, totaling over $100 million. DHS then redistributed the funds that it had cut to other states.
In their lawsuit, Raoul and the coalition argue that the reallocation of funds is unlawful and violates the federal Administrative Procedure Act. Raoul and the attorneys general are seeking a temporary restraining order to block the reallocation.
Attorney General Raoul co-led this lawsuit with the attorneys general of New Jersey, California and Rhode Island. Joining them in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington.
More like this:
- Most Popular
- Top Stories
- Most Recent
