News
January 28, 2025 | By Benjamin Yount
Policy Issues
Accountable Government

Gov. Evers asks Trump Administration to Pause Federal Grant Freeze

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau on Tuesday said that Wisconsin received $28.2 billion worth of federal aid during the current two-year state budget.

Evers Asks for Delay

Wisconsin’s governor is asking the Trump White House to wait with its federal funding freeze.

The Trump Administration on Monday announced plans to halt $3 trillion in foreign and domestic aid, much of it grant money.

“The American people elected Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar,” the letter from the Office of Management and Budget read. “This memorandum requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements.”

The Trump Administration said the order to freeze the aid covers “but [is] not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”

Gov. Evers said in a letter of his own that Wisconsin’s budget managers do not yet know what kind of impact that will have on the state.

“I am also deeply concerned that these actions could have disastrous consequences for the people of Wisconsin and our state. These benefits and investments—many of which were undoubtedly approved with bipartisan support by the U.S. Congress—are the law. Although we may disagree on many issues, we should be able to agree that following the law is critically important,” Evers wrote. “ I further ask that you delay implementation of these memoranda, especially the memorandum issued yesterday, to give meaningful time for thorough and thoughtful review and feedback from all those who may be directly impacted by suspending federal funding that the U.S. Congress has already approved and on which so many depend.”

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau on Tuesday said that Wisconsin received $28.2 billion worth of federal aid during the current two-year state budget. Most of that money went to Wisconsin's Medicaid program through the Department of Health Services. The LFB said that $28.2 billion in federal assistance made up just over 28% of Wisconsin's total state budget.

It’s not clear how much of that federal aid is tied to DEI or the green new deal, though some of it certainly is.

State Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, accused the Trump Administration of creating chaos and unnecessary panic.

“States like Wisconsin are left scrambling as it is entirely unclear exactly which programs are affected and for how long. Programs millions of Americans rely on for housing, food assistance, public schools, small businesses, and a host of other areas are at risk,” Larson said in a tweet. “The Constitution makes it quite clear that Congress - not the President - has authority over spending. This order is already under legal challenge, and is just one more example of the chaos and harm this administration is willing to cause to further their radical agenda.”

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