Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Disaster Funds

A federal judge has halted a major funding cut. The Trump administration attempted to withhold money. It targeted states with sanctuary policies.Judge Mary McElroy ordered the funding restored. Her ruling impacts over $233 million in grants. The money is for homeland security and emergency preparedness.

Court Blocks Federal Funding Cut to Sanctuary States

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U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy issued a decisive ruling. She found the administration’s actions unlawful. The decision came from a Rhode Island court.The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA reduced grants. According to Reuters, the cuts affected at least nine jurisdictions. These included New York, Massachusetts, and Washington state.The funding is part of a $1 billion program. It is designed for counterterrorism and disaster response. Local police and fire departments rely on it.Judge McElroy called the cuts arbitrary and capricious. She noted the reductions used conspicuous round numbers. No rational formula could produce such a result, she wrote.The judge was appointed by President Trump. She ordered DHS to restore the original allocations. The ruling is a significant legal setback for the administration’s policy.The case was brought by a coalition of twelve state attorneys general. They argued the cuts were politically motivated. The judge agreed with their assessment.

Legal Battle Over Immigration Enforcement Conditions

The conflict centers on immigration enforcement. The administration sought to tie funding to cooperation. Sanctuary states limit their assistance with federal immigration agents.This ruling aligns with another recent court decision. A separate judge found similar conditions unconstitutional. That case involved FEMA disaster funding specifically.Judge McElroy emphasized the importance of the grants. She cited the recent shooting at Brown University. Such funding is vital for responding to tragedies, she noted.”To hold hostage funding for programs like these… is unconscionable,” McElroy wrote. Her 48-page opinion was strongly worded. It accused officials of abusing their administrative role.Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell praised the victory. She said it prevents punishment for refusing a “cruel immigration agenda.” Other states in the coalition echoed her statement.The Department of Homeland Security has not commented. Emails seeking a response were not immediately returned. The ruling currently stands as a binding order.

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The federal judge’s ruling ensures critical security funding flows to sanctuary states. It firmly rejects linking grants to immigration enforcement. This legal precedent protects state autonomy in allocating disaster resources.