Five organizations that had grants terminated by the Justice Department in April are suing the department and Attorney General Pam [Bimbo #3] Bondi, arguing that the cancellations are unconstitutional and asking that the money be reinstated.
The lawsuit, filed late Wednesday by the Vera Institute of Justice, the Center for Children & Youth Justice, Chinese for Affirmative Action, FORCE Detroit and Health Resources in Action, asks a federal judge in the nation’s capital to “declare unlawful, vacate and set aside” the cancellations that were sent to more than 360 awardees ending grants worth nearly $820 million midstream.
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The lawsuit argues that the grant terminations did not allow due process to the organizations, lacked sufficient clarity, and that Henneberg’s office lacked “constitutional, statutory, and regulatory authority” to terminate the grants. The lawyers also argue that the move violated the constitutional separation of powers clause that gives Congress appropriation powers.
The lawsuit notes that all the grant recipients that had money rescinded received the same form letter announcing the cancellation, with identical words saying the grant programs no longer met the agency’s priorities.
Lawyers argue in the lawsuit that the new agency priorities noted in the form letter are not articulated in policy or law, and that federal regulations do not allow for cancellations when the agency’s priorities change “post-award.” They said the rule only allows for cancellations of grants that no longer meet the agency’s goals as stated when the grants were awarded.
Associated Press: Organizations sue Justice Department to reverse hundreds of grant cancellations
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Organizations sue Justice Department to reverse hundreds of grant cancellations
Five organizations that had grants terminated by the U.S. Justice Department in April are suing the department and Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling the cancellations unconstitutional and asking that the money be reinstated.