The administration of US President Donald Trump has suffered a setback from a federal judge on Tuesday (local time). The judge stopped the Trump administration from redistribution of $ four billion to help people protect people from natural disasters.
Boston’s US District Judge Richard Ji Sterns pronounced the decision on the demand of 20 states led by Democratic leadership. He appealed to the court to prevent the Trump administration from spending this money elsewhere. These states argue that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has no right to abolish and use the money elsewhere. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the infrastructure against possible stormy damage across the country.
FEMA had announced the end of the first program
FEMA had earlier announced that he was ending the event, but later in a court document said that he was just considering. Judge Sterns said in his judgment that whatever documents and evidence are there, FEMA seems to have actually decided that the program will be closed, and now it is moving in the same direction. The judge also said that FEMA has stopped giving money for new projects and made it clear that the money that was not yet distributed will not be available for any state or community.
States said- Congress had allocated money
States said in the trial that since the Congress had specifically approved this money for disaster-rituals, it would be against the constitution to spend it elsewhere. Government’s lawyer Nicole O’Coner argued in the court that FEMA should have the freedom to use this money for any disaster work, whether it is helping after disaster or preparing in advance.
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Program grants many disaster projects
The program has provided grants for several disaster management projects, including strengthening electrical grids, construction of embankments for flood protection and transfer of sensitive water treatment facilities. Many projects are in rural areas. States including California, New York and Washington argue that only the threat to losing money has put many projects at risk of canceling. He warned that it would be extremely indispensable to end the program.