Fact Check: Transportation Secretary threatens to cut funding to 'rogue' states refusing ICE cooperation
What We Know
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a directive in April 2025 that ties federal transportation funding to state cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding immigration enforcement. This directive has been challenged in court by 20 Democratic state attorneys general, who argue that it is coercive and lacks legal authority. The directive requires states to adhere to federal immigration laws to qualify for federal grants, which are essential for transportation projects, including roads and bridges (source-1, source-2).
A federal judge, John McConnell, has indicated that he may block this directive, questioning the authority of the Transportation Department to impose such conditions on funding that Congress has already appropriated (source-1). The judge expressed skepticism about whether the directive's immigration conditions are relevant to the safety and security of transportation systems (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that Transportation Secretary Duffy threatened to cut funding to states that do not cooperate with ICE is supported by multiple sources. Duffy's directive explicitly states that adherence to immigration enforcement is a prerequisite for receiving federal transportation funds (source-2). This directive has been described as an attempt to leverage federal funding to enforce immigration policies, particularly against so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities (source-3).
The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they include coverage from established news organizations such as NPR and CBS News, which are known for their journalistic standards. The legal proceedings surrounding the directive also lend credibility to the claim, as they reflect ongoing disputes about the authority of federal agencies to impose conditions on state funding (source-1, source-2).
However, it is important to note that the directive is currently facing legal challenges, and a federal judge has indicated that he may issue a preliminary injunction against it, which could prevent the implementation of the funding cuts. This ongoing litigation highlights the contentious nature of the directive and its implications for state-federal relations regarding immigration enforcement (source-1, source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to cut funding to "rogue" states that refuse to cooperate with ICE is True. The directive issued by Duffy clearly states that federal transportation funding is contingent upon state compliance with federal immigration enforcement. This directive has been challenged in court, indicating significant legal and political controversy surrounding its implementation.
Sources
- Judge grills DOJ official on order tying transportation funding to immigration enforcement. GovExec
- Judge rules federal grants can't be tied to immigration enforcement. NPR
- Trump administration can't require states to cooperate with ICE to get funding. CBS News
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatens to cut funding from rogue states. MSN
- R.I., Mass., sue over threatened funding cuts for states that don't help ICE. Boston Globe
