NEW YORK (Echosphere) — A federal judge has permanently blocked the Trump administration from withholding nearly $34 million in funding earmarked to protect New York's transit system from potential terrorist attacks. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled that the Republican administration's decision, rooted in the city's 'sanctuary policies' for undocumented immigrants, was 'arbitrary, capricious, and a blatant violation of the law.'
The funding, part of the post-9/11 Transit Security Grant Program, was created to ensure that money is allocated based solely on terrorism risk. It is critical for implementing targeted counterterrorism patrols, enhancing infrastructure security, and developing cybersecurity technologies. Previously, the judge had issued a temporary injunction against the funding cuts.
The lawsuit was initiated by the state against the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), following announcements that the funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would be eliminated due to its status as a designated Sanctuary Jurisdiction.
New York's MTA is the largest transit agency in the United States and relies on this allocation to handle security measures, which includes advanced weapons detection technologies. Following the ruling, officials including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James praised the decision. They labeled it a 'victory for every New Yorker who rides our subways, buses, and commuter rails,' emphasizing that security resources cannot be subjected to arbitrary cuts.
This ruling underscores the ongoing conflict between federal policies and local governance, particularly in sanctuary cities, and highlights the significance of adequate funding for public safety in urban transit systems.
The funding, part of the post-9/11 Transit Security Grant Program, was created to ensure that money is allocated based solely on terrorism risk. It is critical for implementing targeted counterterrorism patrols, enhancing infrastructure security, and developing cybersecurity technologies. Previously, the judge had issued a temporary injunction against the funding cuts.
The lawsuit was initiated by the state against the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), following announcements that the funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would be eliminated due to its status as a designated Sanctuary Jurisdiction.
New York's MTA is the largest transit agency in the United States and relies on this allocation to handle security measures, which includes advanced weapons detection technologies. Following the ruling, officials including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James praised the decision. They labeled it a 'victory for every New Yorker who rides our subways, buses, and commuter rails,' emphasizing that security resources cannot be subjected to arbitrary cuts.
This ruling underscores the ongoing conflict between federal policies and local governance, particularly in sanctuary cities, and highlights the significance of adequate funding for public safety in urban transit systems.
