Judge blocks Trump election changes via terror funds
The gist
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from tying counterterrorism grants to election changes.
The ruling affects about $1.1 billion in grants before the November 3 midterms.
How it unfolded
- Earlier this year (2026)The Department of Homeland Security announced it would withhold 20% of funding under grant programs related to preparing for terrorist attacks and other threats until state or local governments adopted election administration measures favored by the administration.
- Sep 28, 2026US District Judge Amir Ali in Washington, D.C. blocked the Trump administration from conditioning counterterrorism funds to state and local governments on changes to election administration.
- Sep 28, 2026Ali sided with counties and cities in Texas, Ohio and Tennessee that sued to block the changes, on the basis that conditioning such funds exceeded the Federal Emergency Management Agency's authority.