Salem Sues DHS and FEMA Over $1 Million Disaster Grant Conditions
Updated
Updated · KATU · Jul 7
Salem Sues DHS and FEMA Over $1 Million Disaster Grant Conditions
3 articles · Updated · KATU · Jul 7
Summary
A 71-page federal complaint filed June 30 in Eugene says Salem is challenging DHS and FEMA for tying disaster aid to compliance with executive orders on DEI, gender identity and immigration enforcement.
More than $1 million in approved funding for storm-damaged culverts and access to the West Salem Pump Station is at risk, the city says, even though permanent repairs are still needed after the December 2025 storms.
Salem argues those conditions were not authorized by Congress and unlawfully intrude on Congress's spending power because they are unrelated to disaster recovery.
DHS defended the policy as part of enforcing anti-discrimination rules and preventing taxpayer money from funding DEI initiatives, climate activism or jurisdictions that impede federal immigration enforcement.
As cities challenge new federal funding rules, could a 2024 court ruling give them the upper hand?
When disaster relief depends on national policy, who really controls a city's recovery?
Salem’s $1 Million Disaster Aid at Risk: City Challenges Federal Restrictions on DEI and Immigration Compliance
Overview
After severe storms in December 2025 damaged critical infrastructure in Salem, Oregon, the city became reliant on over $1 million in federal disaster relief funding to make repairs. However, new conditions imposed by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA restricted how these funds could be used, prompting Salem to file a federal lawsuit on June 30, 2026. The city argues these requirements are unconstitutional and unrelated to disaster recovery, putting them in a difficult position between compliance and securing vital aid. As of July 10, 2026, the lawsuit is still pending, leaving the future of Salem’s recovery uncertain.