Trump Administration Considers Withholding Grants From Democratic-Led States

Trump Administration : President Donald Trump’s administration intends to withhold some public health and transportation funds from a group of Democratic-led states.

The full details have not been revealed, including if the states can take any action to avoid losing the funding. The federal government raised worries about fraud and mishandling of taxpayer funds, but has provided little evidence beyond statements from Trump and others in his administration.

The administration’s approach has become predictable, and this time it concentrates on regular targets: California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Courts have temporarily stopped past similar attempts by this administration to restrict payments.

Trump Administration : Public Health and Transportation Grants Under Scrutiny

The most recent initiative targets some public health and transportation monies.

An Office of Management and Budget official confirmed to The Associated Press that the office had instructed the US Department of Transportation and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cancel awards totaling more than $1.5 billion, as reported by the New York Post last week. The individual spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the cuts publicly.

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The source did release a short list of programs facing cuts; several looked to be targeted because they do not align with the administration’s views, which oppose transgender protections and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Electric Vehicle, Climate, and Research Funds Targeted

Among the transportation funding targeted are monies for electric vehicle chargers in all four states, cash for research into translating the Illinois commercial driver’s license test into Spanish, and funds for California’s adaptation to climate change.

The health research funding covers studies that investigate the health impact of specific populations. Among them is one investigating groups in Chicago disproportionately afflicted by sexually transmitted infections: “adolescents, racial and ethnic minorities, and men who have sex with men;” and a grant for California institutions focused on “reducing social isolation among older LGBTQ adults.”

The list also included a $7.2 million grant for the American Medical Association, which is based in Chicago and supports gender-affirming care for kids, something a Trump executive order prohibits.

States claim they have not received notification.

The governors’ offices in all four states stated on Tuesday that they have not received information from the Trump administration regarding the plans.Jillian Kaehler, a spokesperson for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, said in a statement that the Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to politicize and punish states that President Trump dislikes. “It’s wrong and often illegal, so Illinois will always fight for the resources and services our taxpayers are owed.”

The government has already targeted funds in Democratic states.

The same states, all of which have Democratic governors, have been targeted by additional federal cuts.

A judge decided last week that the Trump administration cannot halt child care subsidies and other social service programs aimed at low-income individuals in those states, as well as New York, for the time being. According to the states, federal initiatives in that effort give them with more than $10 billion in total each year.

There is also a court challenge to the administration’s attempt to withhold administrative funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP food aid, from 22 states that have not submitted recipient information, including immigrant status. Almost all of these states have Democratic governors. A judge has been asked to consider if shutting off funding would breach an existing court order that prevents the government from collecting the data for the time being.

Trump has also threatened to withhold federal funding for sanctuary cities and their states, followed by an order for government agencies to collect data on 14 predominantly Democratic-controlled states and the District of Columbia. That list also included all four of the states involved in the most recent initiative.

Additional federal funds for Minnesota and Minneapolis have also been targeted.