Organizations sue Justice Department to reverse hundreds of grant cancellations
The lawsuit, filed late Wednesday by the Vera Institute of Justice, the Center for Children & Youth Justice, Chinese for Affirmative Action, FORCE Detroit and Health Resources in Action, asks a federal judge in Washington District Court to 'declare unlawful, vacate and set aside' the cancellations that were sent to more than 360 awardees ending grants worth nearly $820 million midstream.
The lawsuit filed by the Democracy Forward Foundation and the Perry Law firm asks for class action status and also names the Office of Justice Programs and Maureen Henneberg, the acting head of that office, as defendants.
The lawsuit argues that the grant terminations did not allow due process to the organizations, lacked sufficient clarity, and that Henneberg's office lacked 'constitutional, statutory, and regulatory authority' to terminate the grants. The lawyers also argue that the move violated the constitutional separation of powers clause that gives Congress appropriation powers.
The lawsuit notes that all the grant recipients that had money rescinded received the same form letter announcing the cancellation, with identical words saying the grant programs no longer met the agency's priorities.
Lawyers argue in the lawsuit that the new agency priorities noted in the form letter are not articulated in policy or law, and that federal regulations do not allow for cancellations when the agency's priorities change 'post-award.' They said the rule only allows for cancellations of grants that no longer meet the agency's goals as stated when the grants were awarded.
The lawsuit says the Office of Justice Programs 'is permitted to terminate an award based on agency priorities only if that basis for termination was specifically permitted by the terms and conditions of the award.' That did not happen, it argues.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not return a message seeking comment on the lawsuit Thursday.
Representatives from Vera said the nonprofit received notice on April 4 that five awards worth more than $7 million were being cancelled. The other named plaintiffs, along with hundreds of other groups, received identical notices on April 22 that they should cease any activities under the grants and that they would lose access to the federal funding system.
The grants cover a wide swath of programing across the Justice Department. Among other goals, they are for community violence intervention work, combatting hate crimes, providing assistance to crime survivors and survivors of domestic or sexual abuse, improving juvenile justice, and training for law enforcement agencies.
The lawsuit says none of the organizations had previously had grants terminated and many had received grants for various programs under both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations.
Many of the organizations that lost the federal money said the unexpected cancellations mid-grant had meant layoffs, program closures and loss of community partnerships. In addition to staying the cancellations and reinstating the awards, lawyers also ask a judge to require state reports every 30 days to ensure compliance.
"The sudden and unlawful termination of these public safety grants makes neighborhoods everywhere less safe and does irreparable harm to communities across the country,' said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
41 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The challenger who narrowly lost to GOP Rep. Scott Perry wants another chance to beat him in 2026
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrat Janelle Stelson, who lost to Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry by barely a percentage point in 2024, will run again in the right-leaning congressional district in Pennsylvania. Stelson, a one-time local TV anchor and personality, mounted a challenge to Perry, the former leader of the hardline House Freedom Caucus . It was designed to sway moderate Republicans , portraying him as an extremist on abortion rights and slamming Perry's votes against Democratic-penned bills that carried benefits for firefighters and veterans. 'The story about Scott Perry just keeps getting worse,' Stelson said in an interview. Stelson called Perry the 'deciding vote' in the House's 218-214 vote on Republicans' tax break and spending cut package that she said would strip Medicaid benefits from thousands of his constituents, possibly shut down rural hospitals and further stretch health care facilities, such as nursing homes. 'This has disastrous, possibly deadly consequences, and Scott Perry did that,' Stelson said. For his part, Perry is already touting the bill's provisions to curb billions of dollars in spending across clean energy , cut spending on the safety-net health care program Medicaid and reduce subsidies to states that offer Medicaid coverage to cover immigrants who may not be here legally. It will, he said in a statement, 'end damaging 'Green New Scam' subsidies, lock in critical and additional reductions in spending' and ramp up efforts to make sure Medicaid benefits are reserved for 'vulnerable Americans and not illegal aliens.' Perry's campaign, meanwhile, has said that Perry's fundraising is its strongest since he's been in Congress, and that the issues that propelled President Donald Trump and Perry to victories in 2024 will still be relevant in 2026. With Washington, D.C., completely controlled by Republicans, recruiting strong House challengers is of the utmost importance for Democrats. They need to flip just three seats nationwide to retake the House majority they lost in 2022 and block Trump's agenda. Stelson lost in a damaging 2024 election for the Democratic Party, despite outspending Perry in a race that cost over $24 million, according to FEC filings. It wasn't one of the most expensive House races in the nation, but Perry's victory of slightly over 1% point made it one of the closest. Democrats took heart that Perry ran well behind Trump — by 4 points — in a district that is becoming more moderate with Harrisburg's fast-developing suburbs. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro won the district in 2022's gubernatorial race, when he blew out his Republican opponent. Shapiro will lead Pennsylvania's ticket again in 2026, and is supporting Stelson by headlining a fundraiser for her in the coming days. Shapiro's support could ward off a potential primary challenger to Stelson. ___ Follow Marc Levy on X at: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CNN
43 minutes ago
- CNN
Obama's blunt message for Democrats: ‘Toughen up'
Former President Barack Obama issued a call to action for Democrats at a private fundraiser in New Jersey on Friday evening, urging those frustrated by the state of the country under President Donald Trump to 'stand up for the things that you think are right.' 'I think it's going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And it's going to require Democrats to just toughen up,' Obama said at the fundraiser, according to excerpts of his remarks exclusively obtained by CNN. 'You know, don't tell me you're a Democrat, but you're kind of disappointed right now, so you're not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something,' he said. 'Don't say that you care deeply about free speech and then you're quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when it's hard. When somebody says something that you don't like, but you still say, 'You know what, that person has the right to speak.' … What's needed now is courage.' Obama's comments come as the Democratic Party searches for its path forward in the second Trump term and beyond. Many in the party's base have called for a more forceful response from Democratic leaders at a time when the party is locked out of power. As Democrats debate who should lead the party, Obama encouraged them to channel their energy into the governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia, saying the off-year elections could be 'a big jumpstart for where we need to go.' 'Stop looking for the quick fix. Stop looking for the messiah. You have great candidates running races right now. Support those candidates,' Obama said, calling out the New Jersey and Virginia elections, according to the excerpts of his remarks. 'Make sure that the DNC has what it needs to compete in what will be a more data-driven, more social media-driven cycle, which will cost some money and expertise and time,' he continued. Obama spoke at a private fundraiser hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, at their home in Red Bank, New Jersey. The intimate dinner drew in $2.5 million through in-person and online donations for the Democratic National Committee, a source familiar with the event said. A portion of the haul will be allocated to Democratic efforts in the governor's race in New Jersey. The Democratic nominee, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and and DNC Chair Ken Martin were on hand for the event. Obama described Sherrill and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor in Virginia, as 'powerful spokespersons for a pragmatic, commonsense desire to help people and who both have remarkable track records of service.' 'The most important thing you can do right now is to help the team, our candidate to win,' he said. 'And we've got to start building up our coffers in the DNC.' Obama also argued that Democrats need to focus on how to 'deliver for people,' acknowledging the different views within the party about how best to do that. 'There's been, I gather, some argument between the left of the party and people who are promoting the quote-unquote abundance agenda. Listen, those things are not contradictory. You want to deliver for people and make their lives better? You got to figure out how to do it,' he said. 'I don't care how much you love working people. They can't afford a house because all the rules in your state make it prohibitive to build. And zoning prevents multifamily structures because of NIMBY,' he said, referring to 'not in my backyard' views. 'I don't want to know your ideology, because you can't build anything. It does not matter.' Obama has spoken selectively since Trump's return to power in January. He has criticized the president's tariff policy and warned the White House was infringing on Americans' rights. Last month, Obama warned the country was 'dangerously close' to a more autocratic government. At the closed-press fundraiser on Friday, the former president said he has not been 'surprised by what Trump's done' or that 'there are no more guardrails within the Republican Party.' He repeated his calls for institutions, including law firms and universities, to push back on intimidation efforts by the Trump administration. 'What's being asked of us is make some effort to stand up for the things that you think are right. And be willing to be a little bit uncomfortable in defense of your values. And in defense of the country. And in defense of the world that you want to leave to your children and your grandchildren,' he said. 'And if we all do that, if we do our jobs over the next year and a half, then I think we will rebuild momentum and we will position ourselves to get this country moving in the direction it should.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Who's got next?' Democrats already lining up for 2028 presidential race in early voting states
SENECA, S.C. (AP) — The first presidential primary votes won't be cast for another two and a half years. And yet, over the span of 10 days in July, three Democratic presidential prospects are scheduled to campaign in South Carolina. Nearly a half dozen others have made recent pilgrimages to South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa — states that traditionally host the nation's opening presidential nomination contests. Still other ambitious Democrats are having private conversations with officials on the ground there. The voters in these states are used to seeing presidential contenders months or even years before most of the country, but the political jockeying in 2025 for the 2028 presidential contest appears to be playing out earlier, with more frequency and with less pretense than ever before. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was referred to as a presidential candidate at one stop in his two-day South Carolina tour last week. Voters shouted '2028!' after he insisted he was there simply to strengthen the party ahead of the 2026 midterms. South Carolina has virtually no competitive midterm contests. Term-limited Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who acknowledges he's considering a 2028 bid, will spend two days touring South Carolina this week. He will focus on the state's Black community while drawing an implicit contrast with Newsom on cultural issues, according to excerpts of his planned remarks obtained by The Associated Press. California Congressman Ro Khanna, a progressive aligned with the Bernie Sanders ' wing of the Democratic Party, will target union members and Black voters when he's in the state a few days later with the son of a civil rights leader. And former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is having private conversations with key South Carolina Democrats, including presidential primary kingmaker Rep. Jim Clyburn, in which Emanuel indicated strong interest in a presidential run. That's according to Clyburn himself, who said he's also had direct contact with Beshear and Khanna after appearing alongside Newsom last week and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in May. 'That's what candidates have to do: position themselves and be ready when lightning strikes,' Clyburn said. Democrats look to turn the page from 2024 The unusually early jockeying is playing out as the Democratic Party struggles to repair its brand, rebuild its message and fill a leadership vacuum after losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2024. Democrats are decidedly more optimistic about 2028. Republicans will not have the advantage of incumbency in the next presidential contest; the Constitution bars President Donald Trump from seeking a third term. And the race for the Democratic nomination appears to be wide open, even as 2024 nominee Kamala Harris and running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have left open the possibility of running again. With no clear front-runner, some Democratic operatives believe upwards of 30 high-profile Democrats could ultimately enter the 2028 primary — more than the party's overpacked 2020 field. And as Democrats struggle to stop Donald Trump's power grabs in Washington, some report a real sense of urgency to get the 2028 process started. Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a rising Democratic star, told the AP earlier this year that presidential prospects 'need to be more visible earlier' as party officials look to take cues from a new generation of leaders. 'What freaks most Democrats out is not really understanding who's up next. Like, who's got next?' she said. 'And I think that that is really what people want most; they want their presidential nominee now.' A Kentucky Democrat steps into the conversation Beshear, Kentucky's 47-year-old two-term governor, is scheduled to make his first visit to South Carolina on political grounds on Wednesday and Thursday. He will promote his appeal among red-state moderates and Black voters in a Thursday speech hosted by the Georgetown County Democrats in a region that voted three times for Trump and has a large Black population. 'Democrats have a huge opportunity to seize the middle and win back the voters who have been increasingly skeptical of the Democratic brand. But it's going to take focus and discipline," Beshear is expected to say, according to speech excerpts obtained by the AP. There are no direct jabs at Newsom in the excerpts, but Beshear is expected to continue drawing contrasts with the California governor, who earlier this year suggested his party went too far in embracing 'woke' priorities. In his prepared remarks, Beshear doesn't shy away from such progressive cultural issues. He will note he made Juneteenth an executive branch holiday for the first time in Kentucky, signed an executive order that prohibits discrimination against state workers for how they wear their hair and ordered the removal of a statue of Jefferson Davis, who served as the president of the Confederacy during the Civil War. 'The current federal administration wants to make diversity a dirty word,' Beshear plans to say. 'They want people to believe that equity means everyone isn't worthy of opportunities.' Who else is stepping up? Already this year, Walz of Minnesota and Moore of Maryland have addressed South Carolina Democrats. Biden Cabinet member Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 presidential candidate, hosted a town hall in Iowa in May. The month before, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker headlined a Democratic fundraiser in New Hampshire. Others are moving more cautiously. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has avoided any early state travel this year, focusing instead on his 2026 reelection. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also focused largely on her day job. Both would be top-tier presidential candidates should they decide to run. Khanna has been working to build his national profile since before the last election with frequent trips to New Hampshire, among other early voting states. The California congressman is scheduled to host two town-hall style meetings in South Carolina this weekend with Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Khanna casts his lower profile — at least compared to potential competitors like Newsom and Shapiro — as an asset when asked about his party's early 2028 field. 'I think it's very different than in the past when you've had clear defined leaders of the party. I think that's healthy. There is no status quo person," Khanna said. 'My guess is the last thing the party is going to want is more of the same." Newsom's South Carolina dance Newsom spent much of last year denying interest in a presidential run. But with his final term as governor set to expire at the end of next year, his 2028 ambitions are starting to emerge more publicly. During his recent South Carolina tour, Newsom only smiled when voters shouted '2028!' after he referenced his focus on the 2026 midterms. Clyburn said openly what the California governor would not. Appearing with Newsom, Clyburn encouraged local Democrats to be energized by the visits of 'presidential candidates' coming early and often to their state. Newsom looked around, seemingly seeking the object of Clyburn's remark, as the crowd laughed. In an interview afterward, Clyburn said he doesn't have an early favorite in the 2028 Democratic nomination contest. New Hampshire remains a player Pritzker headlined a key state fundraiser in New Hampshire in May. And state Democratic leaders are privately encouraging other 2028 prospects to visit the state. Unlike South Carolina, New Hampshire features two competitive House races and a top-tier Senate election next year. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, campaigned Friday in the state with Rep. Chris Pappas, who is expected to represent Democrats on the Senate ballot next fall. In a brief interview, she insisted her only purpose was backing Pappas' campaign. 'I am here to help my friend,' she said. 'I know a lot of people here and I want to put it to use in a good way." What do the voters say? It may be early, but some Democratic voters and local officials say they're ready to get the cycle started. Jody Gaulin, the Democratic chair of a deep-red South Carolina county, is hoping the energy that comes along with potential candidates could boost her party's ranks. 'This is exactly what we've been waiting for,' Gaulin said. It's much the same in New Hampshire. Democrat Jane Lescynski, who works at the manufacturing facility Klobuchar toured Friday, had a quick answer when asked her thoughts about the 2028 presidential election. 'I can't wait,' she said. ___ Peoples reported from New York. Ramer reported from Gilsum, New Hampshire.
