A federal judge has ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s decision to revoke nearly $800 million in federal grants aimed at reducing violence and supporting crime victims, despite acknowledging the severe consequences the move could have on vulnerable communities.
In a decision handed down Monday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied a preliminary injunction sought by five nonprofit organizations and approved the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss the case. While sharply critical of the DOJ’s action, Mehta said the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene and that the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate a constitutional violation.
“Defendants’ rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence,” Mehta wrote in his opinion. “But displeasure and sympathy are not enough in a court of law.”
The now-cancelled grants, over 360 in total, were withdrawn in April by the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs. The agency justified the decision by stating its intention to realign priorities to focus more directly on law enforcement support, anti-violence initiatives, and assistance for American victims of human trafficking and sexual violence.
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The lawsuit, filed by the Democracy Forward Foundation and Perry Law Firm, argued the abrupt revocation of funding was unconstitutional and procedurally unjust. Plaintiffs claimed the decision bypassed due process and infringed on the separation of powers, asserting that only Congress has the authority to appropriate such funds.
Many of the affected organizations have already reported severe consequences: layoffs, shuttered programs, and severed ties with local community partners.
The five plaintiffs had sought class-action status to represent all recipients impacted by the cancellation. Their cause received backing from at least 18 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia, along with several cities and prosecutors whose programs for crime victims or alternatives to prosecution were defunded.
Despite the widespread support, the Justice Department maintained in court filings that its actions were lawful. “There [is] no legal basis for the Court to order DOJ to restore lawfully terminated grants and keep paying for programs that the Executive Branch views as inconsistent with the interests of the United States,” the agency argued, describing the issue as a “run-of-the-mill contract dispute” more appropriate for another court.
Neither the DOJ nor Democracy Forward issued immediate comments on the ruling, AP reported earlier.
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