Five major cities across the U.S. have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing the government of unlawfully freezing federal funds that are essential for protecting metropolitan areas from terrorist and nuclear attacks. The cities argue that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has violated the Constitution’s separation of powers by withholding millions of dollars that are meant to fund critical security programs.
The Legal Battle and the Funding Freeze
The legal fight began when the city of Chicago, backed by attorneys from San Francisco, Denver, Boston, and Seattle, filed an amended complaint in Illinois. The lawsuit stems from a funding pause announced by DHS on May 14, 2025, which froze resources for the “Securing the Cities” program, a crucial initiative designed to help cities detect and prevent potential terrorist and nuclear threats.
The cities argue that the funding freeze has already harmed their ability to protect public safety. They claim that the DHS’s decision to withhold these funds is causing direct disruptions to security measures, including the cancellation of vital training and the halting of equipment procurement needed for detecting radiological and nuclear materials.
The “Securing the Cities” Program
The “Securing the Cities” program was established to help high-risk cities detect nuclear and radiological threats. The funds, which were allocated through the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), have been used to purchase advanced detection equipment and train personnel to safeguard major public events like sports games, concerts, and political rallies. The cities involved in the lawsuit rely on this funding to conduct security sweeps at events such as the 2026 Super Bowl in San Francisco and upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The lawsuit claims that since the funding freeze, cities have had to cancel contracts with vendors, delay the purchase of essential detection equipment, and stop training personnel, all of which undermine their ability to prevent potential terrorist attacks. The cities involved in the lawsuit—Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, Boston, and Seattle—say that the freeze is endangering public safety at a time when these resources are most needed.
Legal and Constitutional Arguments
The cities argue that the Trump administration’s action to withhold funds violates the Constitution by “unconstitutionally usurping Congress’s authority” and “violating the Constitution’s separation of powers.” They contend that DHS’s freeze on these funds undermines Congress’s role in allocating resources to address national security threats.
In 2018, Congress passed the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, which required DHS to establish funding for the “Securing the Cities” program. This law aimed to enhance the ability of cities to detect and prevent terrorist attacks. The cities argue that DHS’s failure to disburse these funds as intended is a direct violation of the law and is compromising their ability to protect citizens from high-consequence events like nuclear and radiological attacks.
Specific Impacts on the Cities
The lawsuit outlines how the funding freeze has disrupted specific public safety efforts in the cities involved:
- Boston has delayed the purchase of critical nuclear and radiological detection equipment for its fire department.
- Chicago has put off renewing a license for software used to operate radiation detection devices and has stopped work on a camera system designed to detect radiation sources.
- San Francisco has paused the procurement process for mobile radiation detectors needed to identify unauthorized radiological materials that could pose significant public safety risks.
- Seattle has had to suspend purchases of state-of-the-art personal radiation detectors for public safety personnel.
- Denver cannot install a $263,000 mobile security unit designed to monitor public events for potential safety threats, leaving the unit in storage instead of using it in the field.
Calls for Accountability
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu condemned the funding freeze, stating, “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.” He emphasized that keeping communities safe should be a top priority for both local governments and the federal administration.
The cities are seeking to have the funding reinstated and to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions, arguing that without this critical funding, public safety and security operations will continue to suffer.
