It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Trump, the guy who PAINTS HIS FACE ORANGE (I’m going to keep pointing that out) is again targeting blue states for – for I guess not being ruby red. This is nothing new as we know. Sometimes in term one it was subtle, such as when that big tax cut went down and they wrote in that SALT (state and local taxes) provision that disproportionately hammered blue states. Now we have them playing games via withholding FEMA funds, and a federal judge has called them out for it.
This gets personal for me as I worked as a Disaster Temporary Employee for FEMA in 2004 and 2004. Created during the Carter administration it quickly turned into an effective federal agency that has, with few exceptions helped a lot of people and places by providing organization and resources for relief, recovery and rebuilding. DHS’s Noem has said she’s shutting it down. She can’t and neither can Trump as FEMA was created and funded by Congress. So, that’s yet another court battle in the works we can be sure. What Noem CAN do is throw sand in the gears and screw with FEMA’s ability to do its job. Over time inadequate response to disaster will stir up perhaps enough negative sentiments that conservatives can ‘blow a wad’ by gathering enough votes to eliminate it. They’ll be SO proud, at least until some red state along the Gulf coast gets ravaged during a bad hurricane season!
In any case, as Alternet reports Noem/FEMA have been in federal court lately because a group of State Attorneys General took the administration to court for dragging it’s feet. Judge Robert Homan ruled the Trump admin has violated an earlier court order, saying there is ‘undisputed evidence’ they have done so. In March he issued an injunction after 23 states said Trump was ‘pausing’ FEMA aid to states. It seems the judge not only agreed with them again today but lit into Noem, et al:
The federal reluctance applies only to states with Democratic attorneys general, and McConnell found the Trump administration ignored his March court order, with at least 19 states submitting “undisputed evidence” they were not receiving FEMA funds appropriated by Congress. Hawaii reported that FEMA had yet to respond to its $6 million request and subsequent $500k reimbursement for climate-related wildfires. The state of Oregon, meanwhile, reported that FEMA had yet to respond to a request for $129.4 million in federal funds for wildfires, severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides.
There is as you might suspect more to this. In fact it’s related to immigration and a Trump EO from back in January. The states alleged not just ‘foot dragging’ but an actual internal control being used. Basically having FEMA conduct a ‘Manual Review’ process based covertly on that January order. The practical effect they say has turned foot dragging into a brick wall. Judge McConnell today agreed. He didn’t buy the government’s argument and his ruling said so:
McConnell noticed the connection between FEMA’s manual review process and the Invasion EO and ordered FEMA to “immediately cease” the manual review process and comply with his original court March order.
I can’t say what happens next other that it’s a sure thing Trumpty will appeal. I wouldn’t be surprised if DOJ comes up with some convoluted way to try with judge McConnell what they’re trying with judge Boasberg which is to use the ‘National Emergency’ declaration to claim national security. Since this doesn’t involve deportations, only alleged sanctuary city states that would be a heavy lift. Still, don’t be surprised if Team Orange tries it. For now at least we get to see another federal judge standing up to Trump. Not a bad ending to a helluva week I’d say.
**Friends, if you can spare a small donation, we could use it. We’re devoted to the mission of bringing you little viewed aspects of what is happening in this country and seeing the Democrats back in power. In all events, thank you for coming here to read. Ursula**
!the only thing we know is that petty spiteful Trump and Noem the Dog Murderer will fight to.punish blue states for not falling over so he can walk on them.
Denis, I regret my inability to follow one aspect of your story. In the third paragraph, you say that Judge Robert Homan issued a ruling saying that Trump had violated “an earlier court order.” Homan’s order, I assume.
But in the quote that immediately follows, you write, “McConnell found the Trump administration ignored his March court order.” In the following material, you always refer to “McConnell.”
A story in The Providence Journal refers only to “U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr.”
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/04/federal-judge-in-ri-orders-fema-to-release-funds-frozen-by-trump-order/82880303007/
When I searched online for “Judge Robert Homan,” the only result I got was your story.
How are these two judges related?
I appreciate your help.
Hello, Denis. I previously wrote to you to ask for clarification as to how Judge Robert Homan was related to Judge John J. McConnell Jr. You have neither responded nor changed your story. I realized that I could check the source that you provided, Alternet, and I have just done that. Alternet does not mention Homan’s name anywhere in its story.
Alternet’s story says, “The New Republic reports U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued an injunction in March on behalf of 23 states suing the White House after the administration moved to pause FEMA aid to states.”
You wrote, “Judge Robert Homan ruled the Trump admin has violated an earlier court order, saying there is ‘undisputed evidence’ they have done so. In March he issued an injunction after 23 states said Trump was ‘pausing’ FEMA aid to states.”
It appears to me that there is no “Judge Robert Homan” in this story; Judge McConnell’s name should replace Homan’s name. My online search for information about Homan found several people named “Robert Homan,” but none of them seemed to be a judge. I wonder how Homan’s name got into your story.
Have a good day, Denis.