{"id":2002,"date":"2026-01-08T11:05:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=2002"},"modified":"2026-01-11T10:18:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T15:18:46","slug":"cutting-disaster-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/cutting-disaster-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Cutting Disaster Funding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Press_Release**_0\"><strong>Press Release<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/ag\/press-releases\/2025-press-releases\/ag-tong-sues-trump-administration-for-unlawfully-cutting-billions-in-disaster-mitigation-funding\">AG Tong Sues Trump Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion for Unlaw\u00adful\u00adly Cut\u00adting Bil\u00adlions in Dis\u00adas\u00adter Mit\u00adi\u00adga\u00adtion Fund\u00ading<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Preceding_Event**_0\"><strong>Preceding Event<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion shut down a pro\u00adgram oper\u00adat\u00aded by the Fed\u00ader\u00adal Emer\u00adgency Man\u00adage\u00adment Agency (FEMA). The agency, the Build\u00ading Resilient Infra\u00adstruc\u00adture and Com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties (BRIC) pro\u00adgram, served the pur\u00adpose of pro\u00advid\u00ading fund\u00ading to com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties to pre\u00adpare for nat\u00adur\u00adal dis\u00adas\u00adters in advance. The BRIC pro\u00adgram often aids in fund\u00ading very dif\u00adfi\u00adcult and expen\u00adsive projects like evac\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion cen\u00adters, pro\u00adtect\u00ading drink\u00ading water infra\u00adstruc\u00adture, and for\u00adti\u00adfy\u00ading bridges, road\u00adways and cul\u00adverts. Accord\u00ading to the press release, \u201cOver the past four years, FEMA has select\u00aded near\u00adly 2,000 projects to receive rough\u00adly $4.5 bil\u00adlion in BRIC fund\u00ading nation\u00adwide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**General_Overview**_0\"><strong>General Overview<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Accord\u00ading to the press release from July 16, 2025, \u201cWith this law\u00adsuit, Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Tong and the coali\u00adtion are seek\u00ading a pre\u00adlim\u00adi\u00adnary injunc\u00adtion to pre\u00advent the Trump Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion from spend\u00ading BRIC funds on oth\u00ader pur\u00adpos\u00ades and a per\u00adma\u00adnent injunc\u00adtion to reverse the ter\u00admi\u00adna\u00adtion of the BRIC pro\u00adgram and require the restora\u00adtion of these crit\u00adi\u00adcal funds to the com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties rely\u00ading on them.\u201d This law\u00adsuit aims to ensure that fund\u00ading allo\u00adcat\u00aded to the pro\u00adgram makes it there to help com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties pre\u00adpare for nat\u00adur\u00adal dis\u00adas\u00adters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They argue that the pres\u00adi\u00addent is unable to stop or alter fund\u00ading appro\u00adpri\u00adat\u00aded by Con\u00adgress and that the action vio\u00adlates the Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtive Pro\u00adce\u00addures Act. Addi\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adly, the suit argues that nei\u00adther the head of the pro\u00adgram nor the leader of FEMA were law\u00adful\u00adly appoint\u00aded, there\u00adfore there is no author\u00adi\u00adty present with\u00adin the exec\u00adu\u00adtive branch to shut down the pro\u00adgram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Connecticut_Nexus**_0\"><strong>Connecticut Nexus<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Accord\u00ading to the press release from July 16, 2025, \u201cCon\u00adnecti\u00adcut has received tens of mil\u00adlions of dol\u00adlars in FEMA-BRIC fund\u00ading since 2020 alone to address flood\u00ading risks and storm surge haz\u00adards, and more. The can\u00adcel\u00adla\u00adtion of the BRIC pro\u00adgram imper\u00adils not just the fund\u00ading that had been award\u00aded and now can\u00adcelled, but future awards that Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut would have expect\u00aded to receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Total can\u00adcelled funds in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut are esti\u00admat\u00aded to exceed $84 mil\u00adlion, includ\u00ading $42 mil\u00adlion for the Resilient Bridge\u00adport Coastal Flood Defense Sys\u00adtem to address recur\u00adrent flood\u00ading and coastal storm surges affect\u00ading the city of Bridgeport\u2019s South End, which has been repeat\u00aded\u00adly impact\u00aded by major storm events. Also can\u00adcelled includes $900,000 in funds for the ongo\u00ading City of Stam\u00adford Sea\u00adwall Improve\u00adment Project. The exist\u00ading sea\u00adwall is oper\u00adat\u00ading beyond its use\u00adful life and threat\u00adens waste\u00adwater infra\u00adstruc\u00adture, prop\u00ader\u00adties and lives. Also impact\u00aded is $25 mil\u00adlion for the ongo\u00ading New Haven Inland and Coastal Resilien\u00adcy Project to address flood\u00ading, among oth\u00ader crit\u00adi\u00adcal efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Date_of_filing**_0\"><strong>Date of filing:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>July 16, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Case_#**_0\"><strong>Case #<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/-\/media\/ag\/press_releases\/2025\/001-complaint-fema-bric.pdf?rev=4d044e0afe1b4c4aabc48f090c9c0792&amp;hash=C6A827263964ECBF1855E0D42AB5AFD3\">1:25-cv-12006<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Case_title**_0\"><strong>Case title:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>State of Wash\u00ading\u00adton et al v. Fed\u00ader\u00adal Emer\u00adgency Man\u00adage\u00adment et al<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Plaintiffs**_20_states_0\"><strong>Plaintiffs<\/strong>: 20 states<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>STATE OF WASHINGTON;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF ARIZONA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF CALIFORNIA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF COLORADO;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF CONNECTICUT;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF DELAWARE;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF ILLINOIS;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF MAINE;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF MARYLAND;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF MICHIGAN;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF MINNESOTA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF NEW JERSEY;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF NEW YORK;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF OREGON;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>JOSH SHAPIRO, in his offi\u00adcial capac\u00adi\u00adty as Gov\u00ader\u00adnor of the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF RHODE ISLAND;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF VERMONT;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF WISCONSIN<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Defendants**_0\"><strong>Defendants<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DAVID RICHARDSON, in his offi\u00adcial capac\u00adi\u00adty as Senior Offi\u00adcial Per\u00adform\u00ading the Duties of the Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtor of the Fed\u00ader\u00adal Emer\u00adgency Man\u00adage\u00adment Agency;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>KRISTI NOEM, in her offi\u00adcial capac\u00adi\u00adty as the Sec\u00adre\u00adtary of the Depart\u00adment of Home\u00adland Secu\u00adri\u00adty;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Court**_0\"><strong>Court<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Status_as_of_Dec._1,_2025**_0\"><strong>Status as of Dec. 1, 2025:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>OPEN<br>Last fil\u00ading: Nov. 20, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-vertical wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Lawsuit Index\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:800\">chrono\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal Index of law\u00adsuits <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container  is-vertical wp-block-navigation\"><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/birthright-citizenship\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Birthright Cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/lawsuit-federal-funding-freeze-to-states\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Fed\u00ader\u00adal Fund\u00ading Freeze to States<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/lawsuit-doges-access-to-treasury-systems\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014DOGE\u2019s Access to Trea\u00adsury Sys\u00adtems<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/nih-and-hhs-funding-for-medical-research\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014NIH and HHS Fund\u00ading for Med\u00adical Research<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/power-given-to-musk\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Pow\u00ader Giv\u00aden to Musk<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/mass-firings-of-federal-probationary-employees\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Mass Fir\u00adings of Fed\u00ader\u00adal Pro\u00adba\u00adtion\u00adary Employ\u00adees<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-education-department\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Dis\u00adman\u00adtling Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Depart\u00adment<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/hhs-cuts-11-billion-in-public-health-grants-to-states\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014HHS Cuts $11 Bil\u00adlion in Pub\u00adlic Health Grants to States<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/voting-rights-and-elections-restrictions\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Vot\u00ading Rights and Elec\u00adtions Restric\u00adtions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/attack-on-museums-libraries-workers\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Attack on Muse\u00adums, Libraries &amp; Work\u00aders<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/stopping-tariffs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Stop\u00adping Tar\u00adiffs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/k-12-funding-conditions\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014K\u201112 Fund\u00ading Con\u00addi\u00adtions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-of-americorps\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Dis\u00adman\u00adtling of Ameri\u00adCorps<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/halting-wind-energy\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Halt\u00ading Wind Ener\u00adgy<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-hhs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Dis\u00adman\u00adtling HHS<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/big-oil-and-energy-emergency\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Big Oil and Ener\u00adgy Emer\u00adgency<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/immigration-conditions-placed-on-dhs-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Con\u00addi\u00adtions Placed on Fund\u00ading DHS<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/immigration-conditions-placed-on-dot-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Con\u00addi\u00adtions Placed on Fund\u00ading DOT<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/protecting-science-research-and-programs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Pro\u00adtect\u00ading Sci\u00adence and Research Pro\u00adgrams<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/federal-funding-for-states\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Fed\u00ader\u00adal Fund\u00ading for States<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/mental-health-funding-cuts-in-k-12\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Men\u00adtal Health Fund\u00ading Cuts in K\u201112<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/sharing-health-information-with-ice\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Shar\u00ading Health Infor\u00adma\u00adtion With ICE<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/the-freezing-of-6-8-billion-in-education-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Freez\u00ading of $6.8 Bil\u00adlion in Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Fund\u00ading<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/cutting-disaster-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Cut\u00adting Dis\u00adas\u00adter Fund\u00ading<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/1-8-million-people-losing-health-insurance\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u20141.8 Mil\u00adlion Peo\u00adple Los\u00ading Health Insur\u00adance<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/federal-restrictions-on-benefits\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Fed\u00ader\u00adal Restric\u00adtions on Ben\u00ade\u00adfits<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/usda-demands-snap-recipient-information\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014USDA Demands SNAP Recip\u00adi\u00adent Infor\u00adma\u00adtion<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/medicaid-funding-for-planned-parenthood\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Med\u00adic\u00adaid Fund\u00ading for Planned Par\u00adent\u00adhood<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/gender-affirming-care\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Gen\u00adder Affirm\u00ading Care<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/doe-funding-cap-for-state-energy-programs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014DOE Fund\u00ading Cap for State Ener\u00adgy Pro\u00adgrams<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/conditions-on-victims-of-crime-grants\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Con\u00addi\u00adtions on Vic\u00adtims of Crime Grants<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/revolution-wind-stop-work-order\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Rev\u00ado\u00adlu\u00adtion Wind Stop Work Order<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/conditions-on-sex-ed-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Con\u00addi\u00adtions on Sex Ed Fund\u00ading<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/homeland-security-funding-cuts\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Home\u00adland Secu\u00adri\u00adty Fund\u00ading Cuts<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/second-lawsuit-against-doj-for-crime-survivors\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Sec\u00adond Law\u00adsuit Against DOJ for Crime Sur\u00advivors<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/suspending-snap-benefits\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Sus\u00adpend\u00ading SNAP Ben\u00ade\u00adfits<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/public-service-loan-forgiveness-restrictions\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Pub\u00adlic Ser\u00advice Loan For\u00adgive\u00adness Restric\u00adtions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/changes-in-hud-grants\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Changes in HUD Grants<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/snap-immigration-eligibility-changes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014SNAP Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Eli\u00adgi\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty Changes<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Press Release: AG Tong Sues Trump Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion for Unlaw\u00adful\u00adly Cut\u00adting Bil\u00adlions in Dis\u00adas\u00adter Mit\u00adi\u00adga\u00adtion Fund\u00ading Pre\u00adced\u00ading Event: Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion shut down a pro\u00adgram oper\u00adat\u00aded by the Fed\u00ader\u00adal Emer\u00adgency Man\u00adage\u00adment Agency (FEMA). The agency, the Build\u00ading Resilient Infra\u00adstruc\u00adture and Com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties (BRIC) pro\u00adgram, served the pur\u00adpose of pro\u00advid\u00ading fund\u00ading to com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties to pre\u00adpare for nat\u00adur\u00adal [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lawsuits"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1986,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/immigration-conditions-placed-on-dot-funding\/","url_meta":{"origin":2002,"position":0},"title":"Immigration Conditions Placed on DOT Funding","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues Trump Administration Over Illegal Immigration Conditions Preceding Event: According to the lawsuit, \"On April 24, 2025, United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy issued\u00a0a letter (the 'Duffy Directive')\u00a0to all recipients of U.S. DOT funding announcing its policy, for the first time, of imposing an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1992,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/federal-funding-for-states\/","url_meta":{"origin":2002,"position":1},"title":"Federal Funding for States","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Challenges Trump Illegal Attempts to Terminate Federal Funding for States Preceding Event: On the first day of President Donald Trump's second term, Jan. 20, the Department of Government Efficiency, lead by Elon Musk, began cutting federal departments, programs and grants. Thousands of grants previously awarded\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2030,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/homeland-security-funding-cuts\/","url_meta":{"origin":2002,"position":2},"title":"Homeland Security Funding Cuts","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Emergency Lawsuit to Protect Critical Homeland Security Funding from Politically Motivated Cuts Preceding Event: On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed\u00a0Executive Order 14159, declaring that certain states and\/or jurisdictions were in \"lawless insurrection\" and directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny federal funding to so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":263,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2025\/10\/24\/suspended-u-s-refugee-program-separates-families-stalls-resettlement\/","url_meta":{"origin":2002,"position":3},"title":"Suspended U.S. refugee program separates families, stalls resettlement","author":"Marie K. Shanahan","date":"October 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Natanya Friedheim, Anna Heqimi, Karla Perez,Lauren Cohen, Allison Muzzy and Brooke Holzhauer\u00a0Statehouse Reporting Project\u00a0 Cing Cing Hlamyo, a former refugee from Myanmar, poses for a portrait in her grocery store, Shwe Market International Foods in Columbia, Missouri. Photo by Annie George\/Missourian Last year, Cing Cing Hlamyo and four other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Communities&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Communities","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/communities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/20250930_ShweMarket_Hlamyo-ginger.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/20250930_ShweMarket_Hlamyo-ginger.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/20250930_ShweMarket_Hlamyo-ginger.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/20250930_ShweMarket_Hlamyo-ginger.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/20250930_ShweMarket_Hlamyo-ginger.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/20250930_ShweMarket_Hlamyo-ginger.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1983,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/immigration-conditions-placed-on-dhs-funding\/","url_meta":{"origin":2002,"position":4},"title":"Immigration Conditions Placed on DHS Funding","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues Trump Administration Over Illegal Immigration Conditions Preceding Event: On April 18, 2025,\u00a0the Department of Homeland Security issued new sets of 'Standard Terms and Conditions\u00a0applicable to all federal awards. \"The 2025 Terms and Conditions include, for the first time, new requirements compelling States to divert\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2028,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/conditions-on-sex-ed-funding\/","url_meta":{"origin":2002,"position":5},"title":"Conditions on Sex Ed Funding","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Illegal Conditions on Programs that Support Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Preceding Event: On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued\u00a0Executive Order 14168\u00a0which states, \u201cit is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgTa6m-wi","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1091"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2002"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2085,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2002\/revisions\/2085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}