A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general filed two lawsuits on Tuesday challenging the Trump administration’s threats to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding unless states comply with its hardline immigration policies.
The lawsuits, spearheaded by California attorney general Rob Bonta, were filed in federal court in Rhode Island. They accuse US President Donald Trump’s administration of trying to coerce states into aligning with its immigration agenda by tying compliance to critical funds earmarked for transportation, emergency preparedness, and disaster relief.
According to CBS News, the lawsuits target Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, alleging they violated the Constitution by threatening to withhold funds allocated by Congress. “President Donald Trump can’t use these funds as a bargaining chip,” Bonta said at a press conference, calling the move “imminent” and “blatantly illegal.”
States received letters from the departments of homeland security and transportation earlier this year warning that failure to assist federal immigration enforcement or continuing to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion programs could lead to a loss of funding.
One such letter from Duffy, dated April 24, came as Newark airport faced major technical issues. “I wish secretary Duffy would do his damn job, which is to make sure planes land on time, not to direct immigration enforcement,” said New Jersey attorney general Matthew Platkin.
As per news agency Reuters, the lawsuits argue the administration is unlawfully attempting to override Congress’s authority over federal spending.
New York attorney general Letitia James described the move as DHS “holding states hostage by forcing them to choose between disaster preparedness and enabling the administration’s illegal and chaotic immigration agenda.”
Massachusetts attorney general Andrea Joy Campbell said the conditions imposed by FEMA go beyond its legal authority, noting that Congress had specifically allocated the funds to help states prepare for and recover from disasters.
Meanwhile, homeland security secretary Kristi Noem defended the administration’s stance in her letter, stating, “If any government entity chooses to thumb its nose at the department of homeland security's national security and public safety mission, it should not receive a single dollar of the department's money unless Congress has specifically required it.”
The attorneys general involved come from states including California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York. “These funds are meant to repair aging roads and bridges, strengthen public safety, and ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to act quickly in emergency situations,” said Michigan AG Dana Nessel.
“By clawing back this already-allocated funding, Donald Trump’s White House is prioritising political posturing over the safety and well-being of Americans.”
Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha called the move a sign of “creeping authoritarianism” and warned, “Using the safety of Americans as collateral, the Trump administration is once again illegally subverting the Congress.”
In contrast, White House spokesperson Kush Desai, in a statement, accused the Democratic attorneys general of political theatre and said, “Americans would all be better off if these Democrat attorneys general focused on prosecuting criminals... instead of playing political games.”
The lawsuits, spearheaded by California attorney general Rob Bonta, were filed in federal court in Rhode Island. They accuse US President Donald Trump’s administration of trying to coerce states into aligning with its immigration agenda by tying compliance to critical funds earmarked for transportation, emergency preparedness, and disaster relief.
According to CBS News, the lawsuits target Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, alleging they violated the Constitution by threatening to withhold funds allocated by Congress. “President Donald Trump can’t use these funds as a bargaining chip,” Bonta said at a press conference, calling the move “imminent” and “blatantly illegal.”
States received letters from the departments of homeland security and transportation earlier this year warning that failure to assist federal immigration enforcement or continuing to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion programs could lead to a loss of funding.
One such letter from Duffy, dated April 24, came as Newark airport faced major technical issues. “I wish secretary Duffy would do his damn job, which is to make sure planes land on time, not to direct immigration enforcement,” said New Jersey attorney general Matthew Platkin.
As per news agency Reuters, the lawsuits argue the administration is unlawfully attempting to override Congress’s authority over federal spending.
New York attorney general Letitia James described the move as DHS “holding states hostage by forcing them to choose between disaster preparedness and enabling the administration’s illegal and chaotic immigration agenda.”
Massachusetts attorney general Andrea Joy Campbell said the conditions imposed by FEMA go beyond its legal authority, noting that Congress had specifically allocated the funds to help states prepare for and recover from disasters.
Meanwhile, homeland security secretary Kristi Noem defended the administration’s stance in her letter, stating, “If any government entity chooses to thumb its nose at the department of homeland security's national security and public safety mission, it should not receive a single dollar of the department's money unless Congress has specifically required it.”
The attorneys general involved come from states including California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York. “These funds are meant to repair aging roads and bridges, strengthen public safety, and ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to act quickly in emergency situations,” said Michigan AG Dana Nessel.
“By clawing back this already-allocated funding, Donald Trump’s White House is prioritising political posturing over the safety and well-being of Americans.”
Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha called the move a sign of “creeping authoritarianism” and warned, “Using the safety of Americans as collateral, the Trump administration is once again illegally subverting the Congress.”
In contrast, White House spokesperson Kush Desai, in a statement, accused the Democratic attorneys general of political theatre and said, “Americans would all be better off if these Democrat attorneys general focused on prosecuting criminals... instead of playing political games.”
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