Dem AGs Accuse WH of Continued Freeze of FEMA Funds

A group of blue states is accusing the Trump administration of violating a court order by failing to release millions of dollars in federal disaster funds, it was reported Tuesday.

A group of Democrat-led state attorneys general said they're at an "impasse" with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the continued freezing of some funds, Bloomberg reported.

The states say they will have to "wind down" emergency services if the funds, including millions earmarked for Hawaii to assist victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires, are not released.

Shortly after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Jan. 20, it was reported the administration was preparing to reshape FEMA.

Earlier this month, a second federal judge extended a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars.

U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island granted the preliminary injunction in the lawsuit filed by nearly two dozen Democrat states after a Trump administration plan for a sweeping pause on federal spending stirred up a wave of confusion and anxiety across the country.

In his ruling, McConnell said the executive branch was trying to put itself "above Congress" and by doing so "undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government."

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington previously extended an order blocking the funding freeze. AliKhan granted a preliminary injunction requested by groups representing thousands of nonprofits and small businesses.

The latest filing came as a result of the government failing to fully follow McConnell's order, Bloomberg reported.

In February, McConnell reaffirmed his order to halt Trump's funding freeze. He denied the Trump administration's request to continue withholding "FEMA and other funding," WJAR reported.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order that seeks to shift responsibility for disaster preparations to state and local governments, deepening his drive to overhaul FEMA.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department issued a status report that said FEMA is undertaking a standard "manual review" of the funding to find irregularities and ensure grant recipients are following obligations.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.

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