Twenty-five U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration on Wednesday, challenging federal requirements that tie disaster preparedness funding to election policy changes and immigration enforcement cooperation.
The lawsuit, filed in Rhode Island federal court and led by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, targets a Department of Homeland Security directive announced July 10 that withholds 20% of Homeland Security Grant Program awards from noncompliant states. To receive full funding, states must adopt hand-marked paper ballots, audit at least 5% of votes, cross-reference voter rolls against a federal database to screen for non-citizen registrations, and assist with immigration enforcement. The plaintiff states stand to lose at least $148 million of the $740 million allocated for fiscal year 2026.
The states argue the conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution's Spending Clause, contending the federal government is unlawfully compelling states to alter their election systems.