25 states sue FEMA and DHS, accuse Trump admin. of withholding funding

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia is suing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), accusing the Trump administration of withholding disaster-preparedness and homeland security grants to pressure states into adopting its policies on elections and immigration. The lawsuit challenges new funding conditions that require states to verify voter citizenship, use hand-marked paper ballots, conduct specific election audits, and cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The states argue that these conditions are unrelated to the intended use of the funds, which support emergency management and security. They claim that withholding funds jeopardizes public safety and violates the Constitution’s Spending Clause. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, co-leading the case, emphasized that federal emergency funding should not be used as leverage. The lawsuit seeks to prevent FEMA and DHS from imposing these conditions and to ensure that federal awards remain reliable. QUESTION: How might the outcome of this lawsuit impact the relationship between state governments and the federal government in terms of funding and policy compliance?