The Daily Fuckup

Rhode Island is co-leading a lawsuit filed July 23 that challenges new conditions the Trump administration attached to federal emergency grants run through the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. The complaint says the government is trying to use disaster money to pressure states on immigration enforcement and election administration. ([riag.ri.gov](https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-stop-unlawful-conditions-critical?utm_source=openai))

According to the Rhode Island attorney general’s office, the suit was brought by 24 attorneys general, the District of Columbia, and two governors. The case, filed in federal court in Rhode Island, targets billions of dollars Congress set aside for emergencies and natural disasters. The plaintiffs say the disputed terms violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution’s Spending Clause. ([riag.ri.gov](https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-stop-unlawful-conditions-critical?utm_source=openai))

The states and governors say FEMA and DHS are trying to add requirements that have nothing to do with disaster response, including demands tied to voter data and cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The filing also says the agencies reserved the ability to end grants at any time and for any reason, which the plaintiffs argue would let the federal government rewrite funding rules after states have already built budgets around them. ([riag.ri.gov](https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-stop-unlawful-conditions-critical?utm_source=openai))

The lawsuit asks a judge to block the conditions from taking effect. Rhode Island’s attorney general framed the case as another fight over whether the administration can attach political demands to money Congress appropriated for public safety and emergency response. ([riag.ri.gov](https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-stop-unlawful-conditions-critical?utm_source=openai))