New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a coalition of 11 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over the reallocation of federal emergency management funds. The group claims that the recent actions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which shifted funding away from states not supporting the administration’s mass deportation policies, have resulted in significant financial losses for their states.
According to Attorney General James, “The federal government is putting our communities at risk in an attempt to illegally force states to support its attacks on immigrants. Our law enforcement and local leaders depend on these FEMA grants to prepare for emergencies and stop dangerous threats to public safety. I will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers, and I won’t allow this administration to play political games with critical resources that keep our communities safe.”
Earlier this year, James and 19 other attorneys general sued DHS over new conditions tying emergency management funding to cooperation with immigration enforcement. On September 24, a court ruled those conditions unlawful and unconstitutional. Despite this ruling, DHS has continued reallocating hundreds of millions of dollars from the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), affecting New York and other targeted states.
The HSGP provides essential resources for planning and preventing natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies. New York alone has experienced a reduction exceeding $100 million—about 77 percent—of its HSGP allocation. These funds are used for counter-terrorism activities, border security along the Canadian border, and protection of infrastructure such as power grids and water systems throughout the state. Additionally, programs like Urban Area Security Initiatives (UASI) channel tens of millions annually to agencies including the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Fire Department (FDNY) for training aimed at safeguarding high-risk areas.
Attorney General James and her counterparts argue that DHS’s decision lacks justification or explanation just before the end of the federal fiscal year. They contend that both the law authorizing HSGP funding and the Administrative Procedure Act have been violated by this sudden policy change. The coalition seeks a court order halting further reallocation of these funds and requiring DHS to restore them as originally intended by Congress.
Other attorneys general joining James in this legal action represent California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State, and the District of Columbia.
