CHICAGO - Today, Chicago was joined by the cities of Boston, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle in filing an amended complaint seeking to enjoin the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from continuing its reckless freeze of funding under the Securing the Cities (STC) counterterrorism program. This essential federal program, mandated by Congress, provides high-risk urban areas with critical resources to prevent nuclear and other terrorist threats. DHS’s funding freeze violates the law and threatens public safety.

“Securing the Cities was created to protect Chicagoans and other high-risk urban cities from catastrophic threats,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.  “DHS’s reckless freeze undermines our preparedness and puts lives at risk.  We will not stand idly by while the federal government disregards its legal obligations and jeopardizes public safety.”

For years, DHS has entered into cooperative agreements that award funds to 13 local governments, including Chicago, in urban regions that DHS deems to be at an elevated risk of sustaining terrorist attacks. Under these agreements, DHS specifies ways in which local governments may spend STC funds and requires DHS’s pre-approval before incurring other costs.

For instance, Plaintiffs used Securing the Cities funds to protect public safety during a November 2023 visit by President Joe Biden, an October 2024 rally held by presidential candidate Donald Trump, and at the 2024 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. After incurring STC costs, Plaintiffs seek reimbursement from DHS and are typically reimbursed within 72 hours. Since February 2025, however, DHS has effectively ignored Plaintiffs’ reimbursement requests. DHS has further notified Plaintiffs that they must pause all radiological and nuclear detection equipment purchases.

Chicago is awaiting more than $1 million in reimbursement for pre-approved expenditures.  Federal grant regulations require agencies to process reimbursements within 30 days after receiving a payment request unless there is reason to believe the request is improper. 

“The actions taken by the federal government are unconstitutional. The United States Constitution assigns the responsibility to enact laws and appropriate funds to Congress, while requiring the President to execute those laws,” said Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry. 

The plaintiffs are seeking compliance with the federal law and an injunction to stop the unlawful funding freeze.

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