Trump Can't Force Election Changes by Blocking Counterterrorism Funds to States, Judge Says
Judge Amir Ali said FEMA exceeded its authority by tying 20% of state counterterrorism grants to election-rule changes.
- On Monday, District Judge Amir Ali vacated a Federal Emergency Management Agency rule conditioning counterterrorism grants on election administration changes, ruling the agency lacked congressional authorization for such requirements.
- Earlier this year, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the department would withhold 20% of funding from about $1.1 billion in counterterrorism grants unless states adopted hand-marked paper ballots, manual audits, and citizenship-verification procedures.
- Ali wrote that Congress did not authorize using grant programs for election reforms, and the agency failed to explain how these conditions relate to stopping terrorism. The judge noted the requirements address routine election administration, not terrorist threats.
- Local governments including Columbus, Ohio; Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee; and Harris, Texas, filed the lawsuit challenging the mandates as unconstitutional and exceeding statutory authority, with Ali siding with the plaintiffs.
- The Brennan Center, representing plaintiffs, stated the administration's attempts to seize control over elections 'violate the Constitution,' while a separate legal challenge from a coalition of states remains pending.
112 Articles
112 Articles
Federal judge rules against FEMA threat to block anti-terrorism funds
A federal court ruled in favor of Metro Nashville and five other cities and counties, striking down the Trump administration’s effort to withhold anti-terrorism funds unless they adopted election-system policies targeting to check citizenship. The Monday ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali in the District of Columbia vacated conditions placed on election offices […]
Federal court rules in favor of El Paso County, other local governments on FEMA election requirements for funding
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A federal judge has struck down new FEMA funding rules that tied public safety grants to election policy requirements for local governments. As ABC-7 previously reported, El Paso County joined the lawsuit against the requirement change last month, challenging the Department of Homeland Security's decision to withhold 20% of funding
Judge blocks FEMA election rules tied to anti-terrorism grants
A federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s attempt to tie counterterrorism grants to changes in state and local election procedures, siding with El Paso County and five other local governments that challenged the requirements.
Judge Blocks Trump From Pulling Counteterrorism Funds
“A federal judge on Monday blocked the authority of President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold some federal counterterrorism funding from states that don’t meet its election administration demands,” the Associated Press reports. “Courts have largely rejected the administration’s previous efforts, which reflect untrue claims about widespread voting fraud and come ahead of November’s midterm elections where Democrats seek to take control …
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