Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The suit challenges the sudden termination of millions of dollars in grants intended to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
The Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program, established by Congress in 2020, is described as the only federal funding source dedicated to proactive local efforts to prevent such threats. These grants support various entities, including state agencies, health facilities, universities, and law enforcement, in identifying and addressing potential extremist threats.
On July 21, 2025, DHS and FEMA ended TVTP grant awards before their scheduled completion. According to DHS, this decision was made because the awards no longer aligned with the goals or priorities of the Trump administration. In fiscal year 2023, Michigan State Police received $425,845 from the TVTP program. This funding supported the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) team pilot project in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. The BTAM team uses a public health approach to address targeted violence and has completed several interventions.
Attorney General Nessel stated: “TVTP grants support critical violence and terrorism prevention efforts in our state, helping identify threats early and intervene before lives are lost. Combating terrorism should be a priority of any administration. Instead, the Trump White House has abruptly and unlawfully terminated these grants, throwing essential programs across the country into uncertainty, jeopardizing the safety of our communities, and undermining years of proactive work to prevent such acts of violence. I remain committed to fighting to restore this funding that protects the people of our state.”
The lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims alleges that ending these grants constitutes a breach of contract since agreements only allow for termination under specific conditions such as non-compliance by grantees—not changes in political priorities between administrations. The coalition also argues that terminating these funds violates principles of good faith and fair dealing.
As a result, participating states seek monetary damages for what they describe as illegal actions by the Trump administration.
Nessel is joined by attorneys general from Colorado, Hawai‘i, Maryland, Minnesota, and Rhode Island in pursuing this legal action.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General works on initiatives aimed at serving residents through public service and protection efforts across Michigan (official website). Dana Nessel serves as Michigan’s 54th attorney general (official website). The department also advances social initiatives including actions against human trafficking (official website) and exercises statewide authority to safeguard residents (official website).
