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King County Metro joins lawsuit over new FTA grant conditions; judge grants temporary restraining order
Summary
At the Regional Transit Committee meeting May 21, Metro staff said King County joined a national coalition suing HUD and the FTA over new conditions added to the FTA master agreement. Metro also filed for a restraining order; a federal judge temporarily granted it, Metro said.
KING COUNTY — King County Metro told the Regional Transit Committee on May 21 that it has joined a national coalition of local jurisdictions in suing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Transit Administration over newly added conditions to the FTA master agreement.
Metro Chief of Staff Deanna Martin said the county joined the suit because the agency believes the new grant conditions would “require the county to make promises that we believe conflict with federal, state, and local laws and our values.” She said the conditions restrict certain diversity, equity and inclusion activities, require cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and could impose penalties “up to three times the grant amount” for noncompliance.
The suit and a concurrently filed motion for a temporary restraining order seek to block the FTA from imposing or enforcing the new conditions while the legal challenge proceeds. “A federal judge has temporarily granted that restraining order,” Martin told the committee, saying the order allows Metro to continue receiving FTA funding under the previous master agreement terms while the broader legal questions are considered.
Why it matters: Metro relies on federal FTA grants for capital projects and service support. If the FTA enforces the new conditions while litigation is pending, Metro officials say those conditions could affect grant eligibility, local practices on equity work, and staff interactions with immigration authorities.
At the May 21 briefing Metro emphasized this was an update, not a request for committee action. Metro staff said they will notify partners if the lawsuit affects planned federally funded projects.
No committee action was taken at the meeting on the lawsuit; the update was presented for information.
Ending: Metro said it will continue to inform the King County executive and King County Council as the case proceeds and will report back to the committee on any material impacts to grant-funded projects.
