Shaheen Statement on Trump Administration’s Order to Pause All Federal Grants and Loans

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the Trump administration’s far-reaching decision to freeze grants and loans disbursed by the federal government beginning at 5pm today: 

“The administration’s staggering and unprecedented decision to stop programs and services that families and small businesses rely on is a direct affront to Granite Staters and Americans across the country. By taking this extreme action, programs to help families afford food and health care, ensure affordable and reliable energy, invest in critical infrastructure, grow our small businesses, keep our veterans housed, support law enforcement, bolster our national defense and so much more will immediately stop operations. 

“The Trump administration has provided little guidance to the federal agencies tasked with carrying out this unlawful freeze, causing confusion and panic. My office has heard from countless Granite Staters who are concerned about what this action will mean for them, including counties and towns that are waiting on promised funding for work that has already been completed. Let’s be clear: Congress controls the purse strings, not the Executive Branch, and Congress must fight back against this unconstitutional action that jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of families and communities.” 

The Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced a sweeping executive order pausing almost all forms of federal assistance to states, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations and more. The full list that agencies are directed to review encompasses over 2,600 assistance programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), community health centers, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), transportation and highway funding, energy assistance programs, water infrastructure funding, State Opioid Targeted Response grants, GI Bill, veteran compensation for service connected disabilities, Section 8 vouchers, school breakfast and lunch, Title I education grants, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Head Start. 

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