U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island ruled that the government's bid to withhold Federal Emergency Management Agency money sent to New York to house migrants was not subject to an order, still in effect, that's aimed at preventing a sweeping Trump administration pause on federal funding.
FEMA’s acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, said in court documents filed Tuesday that the Republican administration yanked funding from the Shelter and Services Program because of concerns the money was “facilitating illegal activities” at a Manhattan hotel used to house migrants.
Hamilton said that the federal government can pause or end payments if recipients don’t abide by the terms and that FEMA is reaching out to New York to get more information and “ensure that federal funds are not being used for illegal activities.”.
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can continue efforts to withhold tens of millions of dollars meant to cover hotel costs for migrants in New York City.
On Monday, Elon Musk, the head of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, posted on X that his team had discovered payments used to house migrants in “luxury hotels” with money intended for disaster relief.
