NOTE: The Maryland Office of the Attorney General shared the following press release:
BALTIMORE – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today co-led a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for unlawfully and abruptly ending millions in grants to states to prevent targeted violence and terrorist attacks.
Created by Congress in 2020, the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant is dedicated to funding local, proactive targeted violence and counterterrorism efforts. These funds represent a significant source of financial support for states, including state agencies, health facilities, state universities, and state and local law enforcement to identify threats and prevent targeted attacks by violent extremists.
In Maryland, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management was awarded funds through the TVTP grant program to mitigate threats of terrorism, strengthen efforts to prevent targeted violence, and protect communities. These important programs are now at risk due to the federal government’s unlawful termination. Despite real and persistent threats to public safety throughout the country, on July 21, 2025, DHS and FEMA wrongfully and immediately terminated TVTP grant awards mid-funding stream. According to DHS, the awards no longer achieved the program goals or priorities of the Trump administration.
“Terrorism threats don’t go away just because funding streams are cut off,” said Attorney General Brown. “We’re going to court to defend these resources that protect Marylanders from targeted violence and terrorist attacks.”
The states allege in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that the administration’s actions constitute a breach of the grant agreements. The agreements contain terms covering the specific and exclusive grounds for grant termination, such as a grantee’s material failure to comply, and do not allow the government to unilaterally terminate based on partisan grounds or shifts in priorities from one administration to the next. In addition, the grant terminations also violate the government’s duty of good faith and fair dealing.
For these reasons, the suing states say they are entitled to recover money damages for the breach of the grant agreements caused by the Trump administration’s unlawful actions.
Attorney General Brown joins the attorneys general from Colorado, Hawai‘i, Michigan, Minnesota, and Rhode Island in filing the lawsuit.
Cry BABY BROWN.