New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a lawsuit and an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Secretary Kristi Noem and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for unlawfully withholding funding requested by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) under the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). Despite the MTA’s need and record ridership, DHS today cut New York’s award from nearly $34 million to zero – an unlawful decision apparently designed to punish New York for its so-called “sanctuary” policies. This decision strips New York of federal resources intended to help the MTA prevent and respond to terrorist threats, cyberattacks, and other emergencies in the nation’s largest transit system.
“New Yorkers lived through the worst terrorist attack in our nation’s history, and we know what is at stake here,” said Attorney General James. “Congress created this program after 9/11 to protect millions of daily riders. I am asking the court to act before midnight to stop these funds from vanishing and to ensure that New Yorkers are not put at risk by this administration’s political games.”