County Executive Rob Astorino is fighting back against the federal government over claims that Westchester violated terms of a fair housing agreement.

The federal government is suing Westchester County for allegedly violating the terms of its 2009 fair housing agreement.

The federal government is demanding that the county turn over $60,000 in monthly fines. They also insist that Westchester put another $1.6 million in an escrow account until the county builds or finances 450 units of affordable housing as was mandated by the end of 2014.

Astorino disagrees with the claim, saying that the county has funded 454 units, including a 28-unit building that is scheduled to be built on an empty lot in Chappaqua.

"The feds at every turn have tried to dictate new terms including this latest ridiculous harassment of a lawsuit, when they are making up new rules and new fines as they go along, which are not in the settlement," says Astorino.

The federal government is also mandating that the county be required to add one additional unit to the 450 already required for each month it doesn't meet the settlement agreement.

Astornino says that if he doesn't fight this lawsuit, he fears the federal government will make it more difficult to build any kind of affordable housing.