A federal court has extended an order preventing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from redirecting more than $33 million in anti-terrorism funding intended for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The decision comes after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit on September 30, challenging DHS’s move to cut the state’s Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) allocation from over $33 million to zero.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General James issued a joint statement following the court’s action: “This court has again prevented the federal government from revoking critical counterterrorism funds for our state. These funds help keep our trains, buses and subways safe for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on them every day. We will continue fighting to ensure that New York gets the resources we need to support our law enforcement and keep people safe every day.”
The lawsuit alleges that DHS’s decision to eliminate New York’s TSGP funding was intended to penalize the state for its “sanctuary” policies, which are designed to protect immigrant communities. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has now extended a temporary restraining order until October 22. This order prohibits DHS from diverting the TSGP funds away from New York or allowing the money to revert to the U.S. Treasury.
The outcome of this legal dispute will affect the resources available to secure New York’s public transportation system, which serves millions of residents and visitors daily.
