Judge blocks Trump administration from withholding counterterrorism grant to New York City transit system
FEMA cut the grants over what it called "sanctuary city" policies.
A federal judge in New York on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from rescinding nearly $34 million in counterterrorism funding for the New York City subway system, finding the withholding of the money was "arbitrary, capricious and a blatant violation of the law."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency cut the grants -- slated for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Police Department -- over what it called New York City's "sanctuary city" policies.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said the Trump administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act in withholding the funds and noted the MTA, which operates the New York York City subway and public transportation system, is a state agency and not "an instrumentality of New York City."
The judge also noted the transit system has been the target of no fewer than eight attempted terror attacks since Sept. 11.
Kaplan's order requires the administration to reinstate the bulk of the money, which is split between the MTA and NYPD.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state should not have to fight in court over federal grant money meant to keep people safe, calling the Trump administration's attempt to withhold the counterterrorism funding a "shameless attempt to exact revenge on a blue state."
"Secretary [Kristi] Noem tried to defund our police," Hochul said during a news conference Thursday, referring to the head of the Department of Homeland Security, who oversees FEMA. "Anyone who undermines our efforts to protect our people is in for a helluva fight."
Hochul chalked the president's politically motivated threats to withdraw federal money to "Washington whiplash" but downplayed any long-term significance to ongoing projects.
She said only Democratic states are being targeted with cuts, naming other states like Florida, Texas and Nevada that are receiving the same funds.
"This is not just fallout from the shutdown," she said. "This was happening before that. This is just a continuation of what they promised to do, extract revenge on their political enemies and apparently any state that has a democratic state or democratic mayors are considered political enemies."