Reversal: Judge Ali bars withholding counterterrorism funds

U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali on Sept. 28 blocked the Trump administration from withholding 20% of federal counterterrorism grants to pressure states to adopt its election rules. The ruling halts a Department of Homeland Security plan to tie changes in election administration to eligibility for FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program.

Local governments, including the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, had sued over the new conditions. The court found FEMA exceeded the authority Congress gave it by conditioning anti-terror funds on election changes, so states and cities can receive the full grant amounts without meeting those election demands.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources