PHOENIX — After a series of natural disasters struck Arizona, particularly in Tempe and Globe-Miami, Attorney General Kris Mayes is taking action to secure much-needed federal disaster aid. On Tuesday, Mayes joined 11 other states in filing a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP).
“The Trump administration is trying to claw back money we use to protect the border, including for protective equipment and vehicles for law enforcement on the ground, as well as to support emergency preparedness and terrorism response efforts,” Mayes stated in a Tuesday announcement.
More than $83 million in Arizona’s emergency preparedness funding is currently at risk, she added. “They are also trying to withhold 50% of the funds we use to respond to emergencies in Arizona,” Mayes explained.
The coalition of states believes the Trump administration is making it harder for states to secure aid that is rightfully theirs. They allege that federal authorities are interfering with grants already promised to states for emergency management, disaster relief, and homeland security operations.
“This is the 30th lawsuit my office has filed,” Mayes said. “It’s a prime example of why I am stepping in to stop the harm to our law enforcement and frontline responders, while protecting funding for Arizona to secure the border and respond to threats.”
https://ktar.com/arizona-news/fema-grants-disaster-aid-lawsuit/5770528/