POLITICS

Texas Counties Sue Trump Admin Over Anti-Terror Funding Threats

PUBLISHED Aug 19, 2026, 1:12 PM ET

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Harris and El Paso counties sued the Trump administration on Aug. 17 over federal conditions linking Homeland Security Grant Program funding to election procedures. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges requirements administered through FEMA, including plans to transition certain voting systems toward hand-marked paper ballots, conduct a 5% manual audit, reconcile voters with ballots, and use the federal SAVE system to verify citizenship of registered voters and election workers. The counties say FEMA lacks authority to impose election-administration conditions on terrorism-prevention grants and that withholding 20% of awards threatens public-safety programs. Harris County expects $23.3 million in HSGP funding, according to reporting, while El Paso has declined to apply under the new conditions. Columbus, Ohio, and Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, are also plaintiffs. A separate lawsuit by 25 states and Washington, D.C., challenges similar conditions. The legal dispute remains unresolved pending litigation.

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On June 24, FEMA announced FY2026 Homeland Security Grant conditions.
On July 10, DHS detailed election requirements tied to funding.
On July 23, twenty-five states and D.C. challenged similar conditions.
On July 23, Pennsylvania separately sued over withheld security funding.
On August 17, four local governments filed their federal lawsuit.
On August 18, UPI reported the lawsuit and funding dispute.
On August 19, coverage confirmed litigation remains active and unresolved.
Within days, defendants could respond, seek dismissal, or oppose injunctions.
Within weeks, courts could determine whether funding conditions remain enforceable.
By November, election administrators may face compliance decisions affecting operations.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Local election and public-safety funding decisions face heightened legal uncertainty.
Possible long-term US impact: Courts may define federal limits on election-related funding conditions.
Reader priority: Readers should prioritize court filings, agency notices, and independently reported developments.
Most Affected: Texas counties, election officials, first responders, voters, and emergency-management agencies.