Judge Orders FEMA to Release Blocked Funds to States

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration, specifically the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is violating a court order by withholding emergency aid funds for states, including California and Michigan, that were meant to be disbursed. Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell found that FEMA's manual review process effectively imposes an indefinite pause on these funds, contradicting prior court orders aimed at ensuring timely disbursement of federal grants. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel highlighted the impact of these delays, stating that about $100 million in FEMA grants for state police and environmental agencies are currently on hold. The ruling follows a series of legal actions from a coalition of 22 states seeking to compel FEMA to release the funds, which the Justice Department claims are being processed appropriately. However, Judge McConnell noted that the agency's actions appear to align with President Trump's directive to penalize so-called 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by withholding federal funds. The ongoing legal disputes emphasize the tensions between state and federal authorities regarding disaster relief funding and immigrant protections.