New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin is spearheading a coalition of 20 states in dual federal lawsuits against the Trump administration, fighting to protect billions in federal funding that supports law enforcement, disaster relief, and transportation projects across the Garden State.
The lawsuits, filed May 13, 2025, in the Rhode Island U.S. District Court, challenge new immigration enforcement conditions tied to grants that New Jersey relies on for public safety and infrastructure upgrades.
Platkin co-leads the coalition with attorneys general from Rhode Island, California, Illinois, and Maryland, targeting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The suits allege the administration illegally threatens to withhold funds—including over $2 billion annually for New Jersey—unless states divert resources to federal immigration enforcement.
“These funds are not political bargaining chips—they keep New Jerseyans safe,” said Platkin. “From counterterrorism efforts at our ports to repairing crumbling bridges like the Pulaski Skyway, this administration is jeopardizing projects that protect our families and fuel our economy. We will not let them hold our state hostage.”
Impact on New Jersey
The contested funds include DHS grants for emergency management and FEMA programs critical for hurricane preparedness, a lifeline for coastal communities still rebuilding from Superstorm Sandy.
DOT grants at risk support highway repairs, NJ Transit upgrades, and Newark Liberty International Airport improvements.
New Jersey also stands to lose competitive federal grants for projects like the Gateway Tunnel, a pivotal Northeast Corridor initiative.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s February directive ordered funding cuts to states refusing immigration enforcement assistance, while DOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s March letter imposed similar conditions on infrastructure grants.
Recent amendments extended these mandates to Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration funds, directly threatening New Jersey’s share of $1.3 billion in annual highway funding and millions more for transit safety.
“When the federal government withholds funds to fix our roads or prepare for storms, it’s not a partisan issue—it’s a direct threat to every commuter, first responder, and family in our state,” Platkin added.
The lawsuits argue the conditions violate the Constitution’s separation of powers by bypassing Congress, which allocated the funds for specific purposes like disaster relief and infrastructure.
The DHS complaint warns that forcing local police to prioritize immigration enforcement could erode trust in communities like Newark and Paterson, undermining crime prevention.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, a co-leader, stated, “This is creeping authoritarianism. The president is using Americans’ safety as collateral to bully states.”
New Jersey’s allies include attorneys general from other states, such as New York, Pennsylvania neighbors Delaware and Connecticut, and others stretching to Washington and Vermont.
What’s at Stake
- $45 million+ in annual FEMA grants for NJ disaster preparedness.
- $628 million in competitive DOT grants, including rail safety and bridge projects.
- $1.3 billion in annual Federal Highway Administration funding for road repairs.
The outcome could shape how federal agencies impose conditions on state programs, with implications for New Jersey’s ability to address urgent priorities like flood resilience and transit modernization.
The lawsuits seek injunctions to block the requirements, ensuring critical funds continue flowing to projects that touch nearly every aspect of life in the Garden State.
Discover more from NJTODAY.NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.