Eric Adams's points of contention with Donald Trump.
In the summer of 2025, New York City and New York State find themselves embroiled in a series of legal disputes with the Trump administration. These disputes, which have been ongoing since late July, have seen several key developments.
One of the most significant of these is the lawsuit over FEMA funding. In a victory for New York and a coalition of states, a Rhode Island district court granted a preliminary injunction that blocked the Trump administration's freeze on federal funding, including FEMA disaster relief funds. The administration appealed, but the First Circuit court denied an emergency stay of the injunction. The district court subsequently enforced the injunction with respect to frozen FEMA funds, but the Trump administration has appealed this enforcement order, and briefing on the full merits is consolidated and ongoing.
Another area of contention is the MTA congestion pricing lawsuit. However, recent sources do not detail any specific lawsuit by New York City or the MTA regarding congestion pricing against the Trump administration.
In immigration matters, the Trump administration has taken aggressive stances, including lawsuits against New York City’s sanctuary policies. Despite this, the city has filed amicus briefs in support of detained immigrant high school students and has joined other local governments in challenging new conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on housing grants. The city has also sued the Trump administration for $80 million in FEMA funds that were clawed back in February.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James has been actively suing the Trump administration to block large-scale federal rollbacks of social services that would disproportionately affect immigrants and low-income families, including early childhood education and healthcare programs.
Mayor Eric Adams, in his unique relationship with President Donald Trump, has signed a letter urging the federal government to inspect conditions at a federal immigration court in Manhattan and has aligned himself with many aspects of Trump's immigration agenda. However, he has not been criticized specifically for the support of the detained immigrant high school students in this case.
The city's top lawyer, Muriel Goode-Trufant, wrote a memorandum supporting the state's suit in April. It is worth noting that Goode-Trufant acts independently as the city's corporation counsel, despite being appointed by the mayor.
As these legal battles continue, New York City remains steadfast in its commitment to protect its residents and challenge the Trump administration's policies. The city's actions serve as a testament to its resilience and its unwavering commitment to its people.
- Local government, politics, and crime-and-justice intersect as New York City's top lawyer, Muriel Goode-Trufant, supports the state's lawsuit against the Trump administration, acting independently as the city's corporation counsel.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, New York State Attorney General Letitia James is actively suing the Trump administration to block large-scale federal rollbacks of social services, particularly those that disproportionately affect immigrants and low-income families.
- Housing is a contentious issue between the Trump administration and New York City, with the city joining other local governments in challenging new conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on housing grants.
- Immigration is a point of conflict, with the Trump administration suing New York City over sanctuary policies, while the city responds by filing amicus briefs in support of detained immigrant high school students and suing the administration for clawed-back FEMA funds.
