Newly sworn-in Attorney General Pam Bondi wasted no time making her mark, immediately ordering the Department of Justice (DOJ) to cut off federal funds to so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The move delivers a serious financial blow to left-wing strongholds like New York and California, which have long defied federal law in their efforts to shield illegal immigrants.
Bondi, 59, issued the directive shortly after taking her oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in an Oval Office ceremony attended by President Trump. The announcement marks a clear shift in the DOJ’s priorities under the new administration—one that prioritizes law and order over political pandering.
Bondi’s first official memo leaves no room for doubt: jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities will no longer receive DOJ funds.
“[T]he Department of Justice will ensure that, consistent with law, ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ do not receive access to Federal funds from the Department,” Bondi declared.
She also ordered an immediate 60-day pause on all fund distributions while a review is conducted, with further action expected in the coming weeks. Additionally, the DOJ will terminate any agreements that violate federal law or contribute to “waste, fraud, or abuse.”
In another major move, Bondi’s order goes beyond just cutting off sanctuary city funding—it also bans DOJ grants and contracts from going to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide services to illegal immigrants. Under the Biden administration, countless NGOs received taxpayer money to assist illegal border crossers, many of whom ended up in major cities like New York and Chicago. That free ride is coming to an end.
The impact of Bondi’s decision will be felt most in states and cities that have embraced open-border policies. Both New York State and New York City have refused to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), opting instead to protect illegal immigrants—even those charged with crimes.
New York is far from alone. Sanctuary states like California and Connecticut, along with major leftist-run cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., have prioritized illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens. But as Bondi’s directive takes effect, these jurisdictions will face the financial consequences of their defiance.
New York City alone was expecting over $8 billion in federal funding in fiscal year 2025. With budgets already stretched thin from housing and providing services to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, the loss of DOJ funding could prove devastating.
Bondi’s decision aligns perfectly with President Trump’s aggressive push to enforce immigration law. Since taking office, Trump has ramped up deportations, focusing first on those charged or convicted of crimes. He has also revived discussions about sending detained illegal immigrants to Guantanamo Bay as a deterrent and has threatened tariffs on any country that refuses to accept deportees.
Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are standing firm in support of Bondi’s directive. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has long pushed for legislation cutting off federal funds to sanctuary cities, calling it an issue of basic fairness.
“The idea that you would maintain a sanctuary city status and then cry out to the federal government for assistance in what you’ve done is, to me, unconscionable,” Johnson told *The Post* in a previous interview.
This isn’t the first time President Trump has taken action against lawless cities. In his first term, he attempted to defund liberal-run cities like New York, Seattle, and Portland that allowed crime and anti-police rioting to spiral out of control. That effort was scrapped by Biden in 2021—but now, with Bondi at the helm of the DOJ, the Trump administration is back and ready to restore order.
Bondi’s tough stance is already ruffling feathers in Washington, particularly among DOJ holdovers from the previous administration. Reports suggest tensions are brewing between Bondi’s leadership team and the FBI over its handling of evidence related to Biden-era legal abuses. But make no mistake: the DOJ is back in conservative hands, and sanctuary cities are officially on notice.
