Twenty-Five States Sue FEMA And DHS Over New Grant Conditions

On July 23, 2026, 25 states and Washington, D.C., filed a federal lawsuit in Rhode Island against FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, saying the agencies improperly conditioned homeland-security grants.^[1]

The suit challenges new grant conditions that require voter citizenship checks through a federal database, broaden use of hand-marked paper ballots, mandate federal audits, and require cooperation with immigration enforcement.^[1] Plaintiffs say FEMA could withhold at least 20% of Homeland Security Grant Program awards — about $148 million — and could even terminate entire grants for continued noncompliance.^[1] The lawsuit alleges violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution's Spending Clause and asks the court to block the conditions and order the agencies to issue funding documents.^[1]

FEMA and DHS incorporated the contested conditions into guidance for the Homeland Security Grant Program.^[1] The states say the federal mandates intrude on state control of elections and immigration policy and that the agencies lacked lawful authority to impose them.^[1] The case will proceed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island and is likely to test how far federal agencies can attach policy requirements to grant money.^[1]

1. CBS News