U.S. states sue Trump administration over FEMA disaster funding conditions

A coalition of 24 U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit in Rhode Island challenging the Trump administration's policy that ties Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster‑relief grants to compliance with new election‑administration requirements and cooperation with immigration enforcement. The states allege that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA are conditioning more than $1 billion in grant money on measures such as switching to hand‑marked paper ballots, conducting manual audits of at least 5 % of ballots, reconciling voter rolls and verifying voter citizenship, and providing immigration‑law enforcement assistance. The complaint argues that these conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s spending clause, and exceed federal authority because election administration is a state responsibility. The plaintiffs say the rules could withhold up to 20 % of the Homeland Security Grant Program—about $148 million of the $740 million allocated to them for fiscal year 2026. The administration contends the steps are “common‑sense” election‑security measures. Earlier courts have blocked similar attempts to attach conditions to disaster‑funding, and the states expect this suit to follow that precedent.