01/28/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/28/2025 17:44
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Smith joined 153 House Democrats in sending a letter to the Trump Administration after President Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that could pause all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding immediately. Neither the vaguely worded executive order nor a follow-up memorandum from Trump's Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Matthew Vaeth and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett clarify which projects, programs, and activities are frozen. The letter urges the Trump Administration to disclose a full list of these frozen initiatives.
The Trump Administration has since doubled down on their goals to freeze congressionally-directed funding, announcing last night a freeze of federal grants and loan payments.
"Trump's Day One executive order has created chaos and is a source of great anxiety for communities and businesses that want to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters, and much more," said Rep. Smith."Work is already underway on tens of thousands of projects in both the public and private sector, but their completion depends on these funds, which were already approved by Congress and enacted into law. The Trump Administration's decision late Tuesday to freeze federal grants and loan payments could have untold impacts for even more businesses, non-profits, and communities. The power of the purse lies with Congress, not with Trump."
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