Major Cities Sue Trump Admin Over “Unlawful” Freeze of Federal Anti-Terrorism Funds

The amended complaint, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, expands upon a legal challenge originally brought by the city of Chicago last month.

At the center of the case is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) sudden suspension of disbursements from the “Securing the Cities” (STC) program — a federally funded initiative aimed at enhancing urban preparedness against nuclear terrorism and other large-scale attacks.

According to the cities, the funding freeze represents a direct violation of constitutional principles, particularly the separation of powers.

The lawsuit asserts that the Trump administration has “unconstitutionally usurped Congress’s authority” by bypassing congressional appropriations and unilaterally halting the flow of previously approved funds.

The plaintiffs argue that such actions not only violate the Constitution, but also jeopardize national and public security.

“DHS’s funding freeze is already impairing plaintiffs’ ability to protect public safety,” the complaint states, citing the urgent need for specialized equipment and training to prevent terrorist acts in densely populated urban centers.

The lawsuit describes the federal government’s move as part of a broader, unexplained “programmatic freeze” on STC funding. Since DHS paused the disbursements on May 14, 2025, the cities claim they have been left in administrative limbo, with 11 reimbursement requests ignored despite prior DHS approvals.

The plaintiffs report that they have been forced to cancel vital public safety activities, suspend procurement of life-saving technology and halt training programs designed to detect and respond to radiological threats.

The Securing the Cities program, established to equip high-risk urban areas with the tools needed to detect and deter the use of nuclear and radiological materials in terror plots, was significantly expanded under the 2018 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act.

Under that law, DHS was mandated to maintain and fund the STC initiative in key metropolitan regions, including those named in the suit. Initially launched in New York City in 2006, the program grew to include Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver, based on their assessed vulnerability to high-consequence events.

In recent months, however, the cities allege that they have experienced a marked deterioration in cooperation from DHS, with federal officials providing vague and inconsistent responses. In one instance, a San Francisco official was informed of a “pause” in payments, but was given no timeline for when disbursements would resume.

The impact, the plaintiffs argue, is already being felt on the ground:

Boston has been forced to postpone the acquisition of nuclear and radiological detection equipment for its fire department.

Chicago has delayed the renewal of a software license crucial for radiation detection and suspended work on a camera system used to identify radiation sources.

San Francisco halted the procurement of mobile radiation detectors designed to identify unauthorized radioactive materials capable of endangering large populations.

Seattle was compelled to halt the purchase of 1,000 advanced personal radiation detectors for public safety personnel.

Denver cannot deploy a $263,000 mobile security unit designed to monitor large-scale events — the unit now remains in storage, unable to serve its intended purpose.

The cities stress that the timing of the freeze is particularly dangerous, given the upcoming 2026 Super Bowl scheduled for San Francisco and several FIFA World Cup 26 matches slated for Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco — all events requiring heightened security and radiation detection capabilities.

“Plaintiffs have told vendors to stop work on vital equipment and have canceled training designed to protect against terrorist attacks,” the complaint states.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu condemned the Trump administration’s actions, calling the funding freeze a reckless move that disregards the fundamental responsibility of government to ensure public safety.

“The Securing the Cities grant allows jurisdictions across the country to prevent terrorist and nuclear attacks, yet the Trump Administration illegally yanked this funding with no explanation,” Chiu said in a public statement. “Keeping our communities safe is our City’s top priority, and it should be the top priority of the Trump Administration as well.”

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The plaintiffs are seeking an immediate injunction to compel DHS to resume funding and honor existing reimbursement requests. They argue that the administration’s inaction not only endangers public safety but undermines the lawful intent of Congress, which explicitly designated the funds for anti-terrorism preparedness.