Trump’s Election Funding Blockade Overturned by Federal Judge

A federal judge blocks Trump's attempt to withhold counterterrorism funds from states that don't meet election demands, citing lack of legal authority.

Editorial Desk

September 29, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Harrisburg, Pa. — A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration lacks the authority to block counterterrorism funds from states that do not comply with its election-related conditions.

The decision comes as the administration faces mounting legal challenges over its efforts to influence how elections are conducted, a task traditionally handled by state governments. The judge emphasized that the conditions imposed on the grants did not align with the purpose of the funding, which is to prevent terrorism and cyberattacks.

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The lawsuit was filed by several cities and counties, including Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; and El Paso and Harris counties in Texas. They argued that FEMA had no legal basis to impose such requirements, which include verifying voter citizenship and switching to paper ballots. The ruling underscores the limits of federal power in shaping state-level election processes.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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