Judge Blocks FEMA From Withholding 20% of $1 Billion Grants Over Election Changes
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 28
Judge Blocks FEMA From Withholding 20% of $1 Billion Grants Over Election Changes
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 28
Summary
A federal judge on Monday barred FEMA from holding back 20% of counterterrorism grants from states and local governments that refused to change election procedures.
Judge Amir H. Ali ruled FEMA lacked statutory authority to tie anti-terrorism money to voter-citizenship database checks, voting-equipment changes and other election-policy demands.
The order preserves access to grants that typically total $1 billion to $2 billion a year, after cities and counties argued the conditions endangered public safety.
The ruling is the latest setback to Trump administration efforts to reshape election rules; FEMA and the Justice Department did not immediately say whether they would appeal.