It’s no secret that President Trump isn’t a fan of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies — and now, that stance is being tested in court.
A coalition of nine Democrat-run cities and counties, led by Chicago and including Minneapolis, St. Paul and Ramsey County, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing his administration of “unlawfully” tying nearly $100 million in emergency-preparedness grants to the rollback of DEI initiatives.
The lawsuit argues that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are overstepping their authority by requiring local governments to abandon DEI programs and comply with executive orders unrelated to the grants’ purpose of preparing for disasters.
Minneapolis files third lawsuit against Trump
According to a press release, Minneapolis stands to lose about $3.6 million if it doesn’t comply with the executive orders on DEI — funding that the city says covers most of its Emergency Management Department positions and some equipment for police and fire units.
“The conditions would force local governments to adopt the administration’s political agenda or risk losing critical funding,” the city said in a press release.
Mayor Jacob Frey defended the city’s decision to join the lawsuit.
“Minneapolis is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with cities across the country to say loud and clear: you can’t threaten our safety to force your politics,” said Frey. “Disaster relief and emergency preparedness should never be conditional on abandoning the very values that make our city strong.”
This latest lawsuit marks Minneapolis’ third against the Trump administration, following earlier challenges over immigration policies and funding disputes.
DHS defends policy
In a statement to Alpha News, DHS described the lawsuit as the latest example of Democrats “trying to obstruct President Trump’s agenda and the will of the American people.
“Recipients of federal funds are required to follow anti-discrimination laws and may not use those funds for climate activism, DEI initiatives, or other unrelated activities,” said a DHS spokesperson.
“At the direction of Secretary Noem, FEMA has implemented additional controls to ensure that all grant program activity is consistent with law and does not promote fraud, waste or abuse, as it has in the past,” the statement continued. “We will continue to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used wisely and for mission-critical efforts.”
Executive orders at issue
The lawsuit references multiple executive orders issued by President Trump that condition federal funding on the rollback of DEI programs.
Executive Order 14151, “Ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing,” signed Jan. 20, 2025, directs agencies to eliminate DEI offices, positions and “equity-related” grants.
Executive Order 14173, “Ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity,” signed Jan. 21, 2025, mandates certifications in all federal grants and contracts that recipients avoid DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination laws.
And a third order, issued Aug. 7, 2025, requires vetting of federal grants to bar funding for DEI or ideological biases, citing examples such as “drag shows” and “critical race theory” as abuses, and instructs agencies to prioritize low-cost, results-driven awards aligned with administration goals.
The coalition of cities and counties spans from the East Coast to the Midwest, including Baltimore, Boston, Denver, New York City, New Haven, Ramsey County, and Saint Paul.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
