Dozens of cities, counties sue Trump admin over withheld emergency response funding

by Thomas Hughes, Bay City News October 2, 2025October 2, 2025

Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti (at podium) on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, announcing a civil complaint filed against the administration of President Donald Trump seeking the restoration of grant money frozen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. LoPresti announced the civil complaint at a press conference in San Jose, Calif., attended by other city attorneys involved in the multi-jurisdictional lawsuit, including San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu (second from left). (Santa Clara County via Bay City News)

MORE THAN A DOZEN Bay Area jurisdictions are again suing the administration of President Donald Trump for withholding federal funding previously authorized by Congress, this time seeking to unlock money for emergency services dispersed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The civil lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Tuesday aims to compel the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to disburse $350 million in funding that was appropriated for local firefighting, earthquake and flood preparedness, port and transportation security, terrorism response, and other emergency-related programs.

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