On March 5, 2025, a federal judge in Manhattan rejected New York City’s request to compel the Trump administration to immediately return $80.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants intended to cover costs related to housing migrants. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rearden ruled that the city failed to demonstrate irreparable harm and noted that the funds could still be recovered if the city ultimately prevails in its lawsuit. The funds had been withdrawn from a city bank account by FEMA in February, a move New York City officials described as a “money grab” undermining congressional intent in allocating the funds248.
The legal dispute centers on FEMA grants provided to New York City to address migrant housing costs, part of an initiative aimed at alleviating overcrowding at border facilities. The Trump administration reclaimed these funds, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stating they represented the full payment FEMA had allocated for migrant accommodations. The city has argued that this action was improper and sought legal measures to prevent further fund withdrawals258.
Citations:
- https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/03/supreme-court-denies-trump-request-to-block-2-billion-foreign-aid-payment/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-city-loses-bid-swift-return-805-million-fema-migrants-grant-2025-03-05/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rejects-trump-administrations-bid-avoid-paying-usaid-con-rcna194230
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/york-city-loses-bid-swift-193511723.html
- https://www.newsmax.com/politics/nyc-biden-administration-new-york-city/2025/03/05/id/1201564/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/us/politics/foreign-aid-supreme-court-trump.html
- https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-03-05/judge-rejects-nycs-request-to-order-immediate-return-of-80-million-from-fema-to-shelter-migrants
- https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/05/eric-adams-trump-grant-migrants-00214597
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/judge-refuses-nyc-bid-us-192318769.html
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-blocks-trump-administration-freezing-federal-funding-congressional/story?id=119511919
- https://www.newsweek.com/judge-hands-eric-adams-legal-loss-against-trump-admin-over-80-million-2040213
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-supreme-court-upholds-judges-order-that-trump-promptly-pay-foreign-aid-groups-2025-03-05/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/nyregion/eric-adams-trump-lawsuit-fema-migrants.html
Sources: Midtown Tribune , TV503.com
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