Judge Blocks Trump Cuts, Restores $34M in NYC Transit Security Funds/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge has permanently blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cut $34 million in anti-terror funds for New York’s transit system. Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled the move unlawful, calling it politically motivated and unrelated to security concerns. The funds will continue to support the city’s counterterrorism patrols, cybersecurity, and weapons detection systems.
NYC Anti-Terror Funding Ruling: Quick Look
- Ruling: Judge Lewis A. Kaplan permanently blocked the Trump administration’s decision to cut $34 million in anti-terror funds for New York City.
- Reason: Kaplan ruled the cuts were “arbitrary, capricious, and a blatant violation of the law.”
- Program: The post‑9/11 Transit Security Grant Program allocates money based solely on terrorism risk, not immigration policy.
- Background: The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA eliminated the MTA’s allocation, citing NYC’s “sanctuary city” status.
- Use of Funds: The money supports security patrols, surveillance systems, cybersecurity, and weapons detection for the city’s vast transit network.
- State Response: New York sued federal agencies over the cuts, calling them politically retaliatory.
- Court Reaction: Kaplan’s injunction ensures the MTA retains its full funding.
- Officials’ Statement: Gov. Kathy Hochul and AG Letitia James hailed the ruling as a “victory for every New Yorker.”
Deep Look: Judge Restores $34 Million in NYC Transit Anti-Terror Funds
NEW YORK — A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration’s effort to strip nearly $34 million in federal anti-terrorism funding from New York City’s transit system, saying the move violated federal law and endangered public safety.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, issued a permanent injunction Thursday, barring the administration from enforcing its decision to withhold funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The judge described the move as “arbitrary, capricious, and a blatant violation of the law,” noting that it improperly tied transit security funding to immigration enforcement policy.
“The funds were established to combat terrorism, not to punish cities for their immigration policies,” Kaplan wrote, referencing the post‑9/11 Transit Security Grant Program, which mandates that funding decisions be made strictly based on the risk of terrorist activity.
Sanctuary City Politics at the Center
The administration’s justification for cutting the funds rested on New York City’s status as a “sanctuary city”, a designation referring to local policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
In court filings, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official acknowledged that the MTA was excluded from funding “because the applicant is based in New York City, a designated Sanctuary Jurisdiction city.”
The judge rejected that rationale, ruling it violated the statutory purpose of the grant program. Kaplan had previously issued a temporary freeze on the funding cuts, and his permanent injunction cements the decision.
The Stakes for Transit Security
The MTA’s anti-terrorism program, among the largest in the nation, relies on federal funds for a wide range of safety initiatives, including:
- Targeted counterterrorism patrols and rapid response units
- Surveillance and detection technology to identify potential threats
- Cybersecurity infrastructure to defend against digital attacks
- Weapons detection systems at key transit hubs
City officials warned that losing the funds would have compromised the MTA’s ability to protect the millions of passengers who use subways, buses, and commuter rails each day.
State Leaders Praise the Ruling
Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, who spearheaded the lawsuit against the federal government, called the ruling a “major victory for public safety.”
“A court has once again affirmed that this administration cannot punish New York by arbitrarily wiping out critical security resources and defunding law enforcement that keeps riders safe,” Hochul and James said in a joint statement.
They emphasized that the restored funding will help protect New York’s 8.5 million residents and the millions more who commute or visit the city each year.
Broader Implications
The decision may have broader national significance, signaling judicial resistance to attempts by federal authorities to link security or infrastructure funding to compliance with immigration policies. Legal experts note the ruling reinforces a principle long upheld by the courts — that Congress, not the executive branch, determines how federal funds tied to specific programs are distributed.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on whether it would appeal the ruling.
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