Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander urges Mayor Eric Adams to sue President Donald Trump over federal funding freeze. Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
Picture Credit score: Ayman Siam/Workplace of NYC Comptroller
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s “government efficiency” bureau took again hundreds of thousands of {dollars} that the federal authorities gave to NYC final week to accommodate migrants — a transfer that Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander known as “highway robbery.”
Lander mentioned his workplace discovered on Wednesday morning that the Trump administration snatched again the funding, saying it was for shelter and providers.
“This morning, my financial team shockingly uncovered that President Trump and his crony Elon Musk illegally executed a revocation of $80 million in congressionally appropriated FEMA funding from New York City’s bank accounts late yesterday afternoon,” the comptroller, who can be working for NYC mayor, mentioned.
The takeback got here after Musk, who is claimed to move up the Trump administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” posted on X {that a} “clawback demand” can be made to recoup $59 million of the cash.
Sending this cash violated the regulation and is in gross insubordination to the President’s government order.
That cash is supposed for American catastrophe aid…
Elon Musk speaks subsequent to U.S. President Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11, 2025.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
The maneuver additionally comes after FEMA fired 4 folks for “circumventing leadership” to pay for NYC housing for migrants, in line with the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS).
“Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” DHS mentioned in an announcement on Feb. 11.
The firings included FEMA’s chief monetary officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist — whom the company labeled as “deep state activists.”
Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, mentioned the FEMA grant cash was awarded underneath the Biden Administration and that an investigation will happen.
“This morning, our office learned about the federal government clawing back more than $80 million in FEMA grants applied for and awarded under the last administration but not disbursed until last week,” Garcia mentioned. “While we conduct an internal investigation into how this occurred, our office has already engaged with the White House about recouping these funds and we’ve requested an emergency meeting with FEMA to try and resolve the matter as quickly as possible.”
She added that the company counsel is already exploring numerous litigation choices.
In the meantime, Lander doubled down on the controversy and known as it a “betrayal” to town.
“This is money that the federal government previously disbursed for shelter and services and is now missing,” he mentioned. “This highway robbery of our funds directly out of our bank account is a betrayal of everyone who calls New York City home.”
Lander, who’s working towards Adams within the race for Metropolis Corridor, didn’t draw back from commenting on the mayor’s relationship with Trump.
“New York City cannot take this lying down,” he mentioned. “I call on the mayor to immediately pursue legal action to ensure the tens of millions of dollars stolen by Trump and DOGE are rightfully returned. If instead, Mayor Adams continues to be President Trump’s pawn, my office will request to work in partnership with the New York City Law Department to pursue aggressive legal action.”
The takeback occurred after Trump’s Division of Justice ordered the dropping of the felony expenses towards Mayor Adams “without prejudice,” which means that the federal company might resurrect the case towards the mayor at any time. The mayor’s critics worry this may make Adams beholden to hold via Trump’s agenda on immigration and different points.
