Chicago City Wire

The City of Chicago, along with eight other local governments, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The suit challenges new conditions placed on emergency grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to city officials, these conditions could put at risk tens of millions of dollars that support Chicago’s preparedness and response to emergencies such as terrorism, public safety threats, and natural disasters.

“Chicago will not stand by while the federal government weaponizes emergency funding to attack our values,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Chicago will always uphold the importance of our diversity. Ensuring that all Chicagoans have an opportunity to succeed is not discrimination; it's just basic fairness. We will fight to ensure our first responders have the tools they need, that our commitment to equity and inclusion remains strong, and that we receive every federal dollar intended for public safety."

For over 75 years, local governments have received support from DHS and FEMA grants for emergency response and disaster preparedness. These funds are used for training first responders, updating emergency operations centers, building alert systems for the public, and buying life-saving equipment.

The new DHS requirements would force cities like Chicago to certify they do not run any programs advancing or promoting diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), or related initiatives in order to receive funding. With significant grant money now subject to these restrictions, city leaders argue this move could undermine congressional intent behind these programs and weaken critical emergency services.

“The federal government cannot demand that cities dismantle DEI programs in exchange for disaster relief,” said Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry. “We are taking action to ensure that Chicago’s emergency response systems remain robust, inclusive, and grounded in constitutional principles.”

Filed in the Northern District of Illinois federal court, the lawsuit claims that imposing these conditions violates legal standards by infringing on Congress’s spending authority and lacking justification tied to the purpose of the grants.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare these new conditions unlawful and prevent their enforcement on future federal emergency grant funding.