Overview
- Eleven states led by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, joined by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, filed suit in federal court in Eugene, Oregon, challenging DHS and FEMA actions.
- The complaint targets two programs—the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Homeland Security Grant Program—over a new population certification hold and a cut to the grant performance window from three years to one.
- FEMA’s hold requires states to certify population as of Sept. 30, 2025, excluding people removed under immigration laws, a data point states say they do not maintain and that conflicts with standard use of Census figures.
- Plaintiffs argue the agencies imposed unlawful, procedurally improper changes that disrupt budgets and threaten operations, citing impacts such as North Carolina staff salaries and training, Michigan’s $30.4 million at risk, Arizona’s EMPG covering half of state operations, and Oregon counties’ potential loss of core capacity.
- A DHS spokesperson told the Associated Press the changes aim to ensure effective use of federal dollars aligned with current threats, while FEMA did not immediately comment to other outlets.