Delaware and Maryland Win Court Fight Over Public Safety Grants
Written by Kiss Media on 7 November 2026
Delaware and Maryland just scored a big win in federal court — and it protects more than $1.1 million in public safety funding for the First State.
A federal judge in Rhode Island has ruled that the Trump administration broke the law when it tried to tie federal law enforcement grants to how much states cooperate with immigration enforcement. U.S. District Court Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. permanently blocked the government from enforcing those conditions on grants Congress authorized.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown were part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general — joined by Pennsylvania’s governor — that challenged the restrictions.
“This failed attempt to strip funding from law enforcement looks a lot like the countless other attempts by the Trump Administration to bully and harass our state,” Jennings said. “It was malicious, destructive, and poorly conceived — and now, it’s failed.”
Brown said the administration’s move put Marylanders’ safety at risk by threatening money for police and violence prevention programs to pressure the state into doing Washington’s immigration work.
The ruling also safeguards Maryland programs covering crime prevention, firearm safety, law enforcement, and community outreach. The decision reflects a wider disagreement between the administration and Democratic-led states over immigration enforcement, public safety, and who controls federal funding.
Source: WDEL — https://www.wdel.com/news/delaware-maryland-win-court-fight-over-trump-public-safety-grants/article_bd26d828-7bf0-5a0b-9e13-49c08f5ea7e0.html
