A coalition of mostly Democratic-led states has sued the Trump administration over new conditions attached to FEMA and Department of Homeland Security grants for disaster preparedness and counterterrorism. The states argue that the federal government is using essential public-safety funding to pressure them into changing election rules and assisting with immigration enforcement, raising questions about federal authority and states’ control over elections and policing.

The lawsuit was filed in Rhode Island by 25 states and the District of Columbia, including California, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. DHS plans to withhold 20% of Homeland Security Grant Program awards until recipients meet election-related requirements, including using hand-marked paper ballots and carrying out voter-list checks; the states say this could put at least $148 million of their more than $740 million in 2026 allocations at risk. FEMA said the measures were intended to protect election security, while the states contend similar conditions have previously been blocked by courts.