NYC suing Trump administration for withholding counterterrorism, disaster funding

New York City and other municipalities are suing the Trump administration for withholding $100 million in counterterrorism, disaster-prevention and funding unless the jurisdictions agree to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs as well as obey other Trump executive orders.

The money also covers public safety programs and losing it would hamper the NYPD’s "ability to detect and defend against a radiological or nuclear attack could be compromised," the city said in announcing the lawsuit.

"Additionally, funding that supports the New York City transit system’s operational security capability and capacity, including active shooter training and deploying specialized teams within the transit system every day, could be affected," the city says.

Parties to the suit, filed at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, include Boston, Chicago, Baltimore, Denver, Minneapolis, New Haven, and Saint Paul. The suit was filed Monday.

It’s the latest case filed by New York City and New York State, from which the Trump administration has sought to strip billions. He's been successful in some attempts, and reversed others, typically only by court order.

Last week, the city filed sued Trump's Department of Education over $47 million in federal education grants, already awarded to the public schools, that the department has sought to block. The funding was pulled, the city said, over its refusal to overhaul "its position on bathroom and locker room policies for transgender students," (The city's policy permits students to use the bathroom of their choice based on gender identity, not birth sex.)

The city and state have also sued over the pulling of money for disaster recovery, infrastructure projects and migrant costs. 

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.