“Senior Official Defies Court Order, Halts Important Grant Funding”
In Washington, a high-ranking official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has instructed staff to stop the funding for various grant programs, following a federal judge’s ruling to cease such actions. The email, titled “URGENT: Holds on Awards,” from Stacey Street, Director of FEMA’s Office of Grant Administration, directed freezing funds for grant programs spanning several years, including those related to emergency preparedness, homeland security, firefighting, church protection from terrorism, and tribal security.
A recipient of the email, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concerns that the directive was a violation of the court order. The official did not respond to immediate requests for comment. The Trump administration had been implementing a White House memo, later rescinded, that hindered federal grant programs against the court’s orders.
The situation highlights a conflict for federal employees, torn between obeying executive orders and complying with court rulings. The actions of President Trump have raised questions about the extent of his authority, potentially challenging the roles of Congress and the judiciary.
Following the email, four FEMA officials were terminated for unauthorized payments related to accommodations for migrants in New York City. The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that the dismissals were made to prevent actions against the will and safety of the American public.
Elon Musk, a Trump advisor overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency, criticized FEMA for allegedly misusing funds for housing noncitizen migrants. Musk claimed that the money was intended for American disaster relief and questioned its allocation to upscale accommodations for migrants awaiting case adjudication.
The Shelter and Services Program, a collaboration between FEMA and Customs and Border Protection, has come under scrutiny for its handling of funds, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by government agencies in balancing directives from the administration and court rulings.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not have its own infrastructure for administering grant programs. The $59 million allocated is part of a larger sum of funds granted to New York in the previous year for the program. The average cost of a night’s stay at a hotel for migrant families sheltered by the program was $156, significantly less than the approximately $400 per night cost of a hotel stay in New York.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, former President Trump called for the entire emergency management agency to be closed down. He criticized FEMA for allegedly spending millions in Democratic areas, going against orders, and failing to assist the people of North Carolina adequately. He stated that FEMA is currently under review and investigation, and went on to express his belief that the current FEMA run by the Biden administration has been ineffective and slow. Trump advocated for individual states to handle disasters such as storms, claiming it would lead to significant savings and increased efficiency.
When asked about South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s stance on federal courts or the decision by FEMA officials to freeze grant programs following a judge’s ruling, McLaughlin declined to comment.
Regarding the Trump administration’s approach to judges temporarily blocking executive orders, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that the President is expected to prevail in these legal battles. She criticized what she called “unlawful injunctions” as part of a strategy to undermine President Trump and his authority. Leavitt emphasized that the White House will continue to fight these legal challenges and is confident in ultimately being vindicated. She asserted that the President has the right to exercise his executive powers on behalf of the American people, who granted him a mandate to govern in the November elections.