Latest news with #AmitMehta


Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
DOJ lands legal victory as federal judge allows $800M in grants to be clawed back
The Trump administration landed a legal victory on Monday after a federal judge allowed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rescind nearly $800 million dollars in grants for programs supporting violence reduction and crime victims. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington denied a preliminary injunction that five organizations sought against the DOJ's cancellation of more than 360 grant awards and granted a motion to dismiss the case. Metha described the DOJ's actions as "shameful" in his ruling, though he ultimately declared that the court lacked jurisdiction and the organizations had failed to state a constitutional violation or protection. "Defendants' rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence," Mehta wrote. "But displeasure and sympathy are not enough in a court of law." The DOJ's Office of Justice Programs canceled more than $800 million in grants in April as part of what it called a priority shift to include more direct support to certain law enforcement operations, combat violent crime and support American victims of trafficking and sexual assault. Democracy Forward Foundation and the Perry Law firm filed the lawsuit, arguing the grant terminations did not allow due process, lacked sufficient clarity and violated the constitutional separation of powers clause that gives Congress appropriation powers. The loss of the federal money triggered layoffs, program closures and loss of community partnerships, according to many of the organizations that had the grants rescinded. The Justice Department argued in a court filing that there was "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." Noting that it intended to redirect the grant funds, it called the suit a "run-of-the mill contract dispute" and said it belonged in a different court.


The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Judge says Trump cuts to anti-violence groups ‘shameful' – but can't stop them
A federal judge has ruled against five non-profit organizations that sued the Trump administration over the rescinding of hundreds of millions of dollars meant to prevent and respond to issues such as gun violence, substance abuse and hate crimes. In an opinion released on Monday, judge Amit P Mehta, who was appointed by Barack Obama in 2014, said that while the cuts were 'shameful' he does not have the authority to enact an injunction that would keep the dollars flowing. '[The] defendants' rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence. No federal agency, especially the Department of Justice, should conduct itself in such [a] manner,' Mehta wrote. The lawsuit was filed on 21 May in the district court for the District of Columbia by five non-profits that'd lost millions of dollars in grant funding through the justice department's largest grant maker, the office of justice programs (OJP) the month prior. On 22 April they were among hundreds of organizations to receive notices from the justice department telling them that their grants were terminated because they no longer aligned with the agency's priorities. Instead, the department intends to focus on 'more directly supporting certain law enforcement operations, combatting violent crime, protecting American children, and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, and better coordinating law enforcement efforts at all levels of government', the notice read. The plaintiffs alleged that the cuts were done arbitrarily and went beyond the DOJ's authority. 'The sudden and unlawful termination of these public safety grants makes neighborhoods everywhere less safe and does irreparable harm to communities across the country,' Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which filed the suit , said in a press release announcing the complaint's filing. The organizations represented in the suit are: the Vera Institute of Justice's center on youth justice, Center for Children & Youth Justice, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Stop AAPI Hate, Force Detroit and Health Resources in Action. In response, the justice department argued that the case is an example of a 'classic contractual dispute' and should have been filed in the court of federal claims. Outside of the courtroom, they also said that grants were cut because they 'failed to effectuate' and further the Trump administration's crime fighting approach. This lawsuit is one of several filed against the Trump administration funding cuts for research and community-based services.


The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Judge says Trump cuts to anti-violence groups ‘shameful' – but can't stop them
A federal judge has ruled against five non-profit organizations that sued the Trump administration over the rescinding of hundreds of millions of dollars meant to prevent and respond to issues such as gun violence, substance abuse and hate crimes. In an opinion released on Monday, judge Amit P Mehta, who was appointed by Barack Obama in 2014, said that while the cuts were 'shameful' he does not have the authority to enact an injunction that would keep the dollars flowing. '[The] defendants' rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence. No federal agency, especially the Department of Justice, should conduct itself in such [a] manner,' Mehta wrote. The lawsuit was filed on 21 May in the district court for the District of Columbia by five non-profits that'd lost millions of dollars in grant funding through the justice department's largest grant maker, the office of justice programs (OJP) the month prior. On 22 April they were among hundreds of organizations to receive notices from the justice department telling them that their grants were terminated because they no longer aligned with the agency's priorities. Instead, the department intends to focus on 'more directly supporting certain law enforcement operations, combatting violent crime, protecting American children, and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, and better coordinating law enforcement efforts at all levels of government', the notice read. The plaintiffs alleged that the cuts were done arbitrarily and went beyond the DOJ's authority. 'The sudden and unlawful termination of these public safety grants makes neighborhoods everywhere less safe and does irreparable harm to communities across the country,' Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which filed the suit , said in a press release announcing the complaint's filing. The organizations represented in the suit are: the Vera Institute of Justice's center on youth justice, Center for Children & Youth Justice, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Stop AAPI Hate, Force Detroit and Health Resources in Action. In response, the justice department argued that the case is an example of a 'classic contractual dispute' and should have been filed in the court of federal claims. Outside of the courtroom, they also said that grants were cut because they 'failed to effectuate' and further the Trump administration's crime fighting approach. This lawsuit is one of several filed against the Trump administration funding cuts for research and community-based services.


Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to stop DOJ grant cancellations
WASHINGTON — A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to rescind nearly $800 million dollars in grants for programs supporting violence reduction and crime victims . U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington on Monday denied a preliminary injunction sought by five organizations on behalf of all recipients of the more than 360 grant awards, and granted a motion by the federal government to dismiss the case. Mehta called the Department of Justice's actions 'shameful,' but said the court lacked jurisdiction and the organizations had failed to state a constitutional violation or protection.

Associated Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to stop DOJ grant cancellations
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to rescind nearly $800 million dollars in grants for programs supporting violence reduction and crime victims. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington on Monday denied a preliminary injunction sought by five organizations on behalf of all recipients of the more than 360 grant awards, and granted a motion by the federal government to dismiss the case. Mehta called the Department of Justice's actions 'shameful,' but said the court lacked jurisdiction and the organizations had failed to state a constitutional violation or protection. 'Defendants' rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence,' Mehta wrote in his ruling. 'But displeasure and sympathy are not enough in a court of law.' The Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs cancelled the grants worth more than $800 million in April, saying it had changed its priorities to, among other things, more directly support certain law enforcement operations, combat violent crime and support American victims of trafficking and sexual assault. A message left seeking comment from Democracy Forward officials was not immediately returned. A Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment on the ruling. The lawsuit filed by the Democracy Forward Foundation and the Perry Law firm argued that the grant terminations did not allow due process to the organizations and lacked sufficient clarity. The lawyers also said the move violated the constitutional separation of powers clause that gives Congress appropriation powers. Many of the organizations that lost the federal money said the unexpected cancellations mid-stream had meant layoffs, program closures and loss of community partnerships. The five organizations named as plaintiffs sought class status to represent all affected grant recipients. Attorneys General from at least 18 states and the District of Columbia had filed amicus briefs in support of the action, as well as local governments and prosecuting attorneys- several of whom had lost grants for victims programs, alternatives to prosecution programs or others. The Justice Department asked Mehta to dismiss the suit, arguing in a court filing that there was '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.' Noting that it intended to redirect the grant funds, it called the suit a 'run-of-the mill contract dispute' and said it belonged in a different court.