Federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to stop DOJ grant cancellations

Source: Associated Press

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to stop DOJ grant cancellations

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 11:12 AM EDT, July 8, 2025

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.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/justice-grants-funding-cuts-law-enforcement-victims-327796a0357136f244475603dc48f854