Abbott weaponizes grants to bend Texas cities to his agenda
For the fourth time in weeks, Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to withdraw public-safety grants to force Texas cities to comply with his preferred policies, latest pressuring Grand Prairie to cancel a Muslim Eid event and warning of a $530,000 funding cut. The moves follow earlier actions against Houston, Dallas and Austin over immigration enforcement and related issues, signaling a more muscular, executive approach that expands the governor’s leverage over local governments.