SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe and some other jurisdictions in California, New York, and Minnesota have joined together in legal action against the Trump Administration over promised and previously awarded funding is at risk. The Administration said they’d pull the millions in funding unless the juisdictions certify they:

  • Prohibit DEI programs
  • Promote federal immigration enforcement efforts
  • Prohibit promotion of gender ideology and elective abortion

The City of South Lake Tahoe depends on FAA grants to support critical capital projects and maintenance to comply with federally imposed safety requirements, including AIP entitlement and discretionary grants, and AIG grants. Annually, the City of South Lake Tahoe receives approximately
$150,000 in AIP entitlement funds and was allocated $556,000 in AIG grants for Fiscal Years 2022–2025,

The City currently holds FAA grant allocations totaling approximately $1,050,000 for critical capital projects, including its Pavement Maintenance and Management Program and Airport Master Plan. They anticipate needing approximately $20 million in FAA funding over the next three years for Taxiway Alpha Reconstruction, a project necessary to maintain compliance with federal safety standards and ensure safe aircraft operations.

All of that is at risk with the Admistration’s request.

Those joining in the lawsuit were issued a temporary (14-day) restraining order on Tuesday after the plaintiffs contend that these grant conditions violate the Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, the Tenth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The judge said the conditions were unauthorized and were vague.

HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) gave Fresno three days to remove all references to the words “equity,” “environmental justice,” and all transgender references, and promise they would not promote gender ideology or they’d lose over $100 million in housing and airport grants. They were also going to pull over $100 million in transportation funds. Sacramento is facing the same story, tens of millions of dollars in previously approved grants for housing and airport safety projects are at risk.

The judge, in his ruling Tuesday, said the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in the lawsuit on the merits of at least some of their claims, and the irreparable harm that plaintiffs will suffer in the absence of injunctive relief outweighs any burden placed on the government by this temporary pause.

Courts across the country already have granted injunctive relief to halt
enforcement of grant conditions requiring compliance with the President’s Executive Orders.


South Lake Tahoe has joined the California cities of Fresno Eureka, along with Sacramento County, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Monroe County, New York in the lawsuit.

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Plaintiffs contend that these grant conditions
violate the Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, the Tenth Amendment, the Fifth
Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).