California officials detail the “chaos” of Trump’s funding freeze, warning another person that they might be paralyzed

Maricela Ramirez was at an educational conference in Washington, D.C. in late January when she and other attendees heard shocking news: The federal government funded the Head Start program, which Provides early learning and nutritional support for low-income children across the country, and is frozen.

Ramirez, chief education officer of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, quickly contacted colleagues and realized that it was true. They had tried to make millions of dollars in funding the day before, but it didn’t arrive overnight as expected.

“The stress and panic” soon began among the meeting participants in her office and around her.

“Our team must evaluate whether Lacoe must close its program and determine where Lacoe can find funds to pay for its employees,” Ramirez wrote in a legal filing recently. She added that federal funds are in The suspension could undermine mental health services, counseling, health screening and nutrition support for up to 8,000 children.

Ramirez’s consequences and ongoing fears over the Trump administration’s sudden decision to stop billions of federal financial aid last month is one of more than 125 injuries as a multi-state lawsuit Part of the courts that challenge the freeze in the U.S. region. At least 16 declarations are from California.

Hours and days after the White House Budget Office announced the freeze in a Jan. 27 memo, the statements jointly painted a photo of alarm and chaos, as the Trump administration continues to fight for such budget mandates, Continued fear and uncertainty. court.

Although the government revoked the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum two days after issuing a large number of public uproars, some funds were frozen in the days that followed. In response to state lawsuits, the Trump administration argued that Trump and OMB “apparently have the authority to guide agencies to fully implement the president’s agenda.”

U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. further blocked it on February 10, partly due to the strength of the declaration – writing that the government’s “absolute and total freeze” could be “possible” unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to much of this country”.

The Trump administration accused McConnell of “unbearable judicial overdoing” but has appealed as the lawsuit continues.

Mary Halterman, an assistant program budget manager for the California Treasury Department, wrote in a statement that federal funds “usually make up one-third of the state’s budget.” In fiscal 2024-25, the state’s $50 billion budget is expected to have $168 billion in federal funding, excluding funding from the state’s public universities and university systems.

Halterman wrote that the largest portion, about $1007.5 billion, is paid under Medicaid, Medi-Cal, California, which can be provided to nearly 15 million low-income Californians (or more than a third of the state’s population) Healthcare.

These include about 5 million children – more than half of the state’s children.

Congress also allocated $63 billion under the Infrastructure Investment and Employment Act of 2021, nearly $5 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, “for public transportation, roads and bridges, water infrastructure and plans related to broadband infrastructure,” Holtman wrote.

Holtman wrote that the Office of Management and Budget’s Fund Freeze Memorandum immediately created “chaotic and suspicious” about California’s ability to continue providing such services. This uncertainty, she wrote, is “ongoing.”

“Without knowing whether and when federal funds will be paid, state agencies may be unable to pay such funds, thus immediately pausing or termination of government services in certain departments,” Holtman wrote.

Creyze has sparked a similar alarm among state officials overseeing MEDI-CAL and other federally funded health programs, especially after realizing that $2 million was not received on Jan. 28, Assistant State Medical Lindy Harrington, director of grants, wrote.

The department “managed to continue operations” but “not enough funds to meet future financial obligations”, she wrote, and she is now worried about the “budget chaos” of longer disruptions – under which a substantial cut or even a total stop. ”

California officials are responsible for other public health and safety programs, which have raised similar fears after funding a range of environmental and infrastructure projects, including cleaning up contaminated industrial websites, monitoring air quality in low-income and vulnerable communities, and reducing Danger and potential danger and deadly pollution along the busy freight corridor between Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.

Eric Lau, acting deputy director of the Administrative Services Department of the California Water Control Commission, said his agency has received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants since 2021 to be used with safe drinking water, overflow and Projects related to stormwater management.

At about 8 a.m. on January 28, LAU staff found 31 of the board’s 45 grants in its federal payment system and searched for 14 other grants to send a shocking message: “Error 839: No account matching criteria was found. ”

Some accounts took several days to return online, warning that longer distractions could be disastrous, Law wrote.

“The design, construction and maintenance of critical water facilities will stagnate, risking ongoing water pollution, supply disruptions and serious threats to public health and the environment,” he wrote. “Ultimately, it is safe, clean, and affordable for Californians. and the rights of accessible water will be threatened.”

Federal funding has also been temporarily blocked by researchers at California State University and the University of California campuses.

State and local officials have warned that there is no careful consideration and clarification of any cuts in federal funding that Congress has made in advance – giving local time to draft their own new budget – is very unwise and potentially dangerous.

Public guidance from Tony Thurmond, California, wrote that the state received $7.9 billion in annual funding from the U.S. Department of Education, which supports 5.8 million students. The temporary funding freeze last month did not undermine the school curriculum, partly because of any significant interest in federal funds not arranged in the state.

However, any intervention in those funds moving forward will “cause immeasurable harm” to educators and students, especially low-income students and students with disabilities, he wrote.

Thurmond wrote that the state is receiving $1.5 billion in direct funding for special education students this school year. In addition, public schools draw heavily on Medi-cal (millions of dollars per year in schools) every year to provide additional therapy as well as mental and physical health services, Thurmond wrote.

California schools also receive substantial federal funding under the Every Student Success Act. Thurmond wrote that this fiscal year, California allocated $2 billion in ESSA funds to “meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable students” and ensure they meet certain competency standards. Among other things, it allocated $120 million for education for “immigrant children”, $232 million to enhance the quality and effectiveness of school staff, $157 million for English language access and enhancement programs, $152 million for improving school conditions and technology, technology and technology, Thurmond wrote.

California schools also spend $40 million to $50 million a week in federal funding to provide nutrition to students through nutrition programs.

Another freeze “could lead to layoffs, service suspensions and disruption of student learning support,” Thurmond wrote.

He wrote that many educational programs are mandatory due to state and federal laws, and that the state will be forced to carry its resources with them to provide them, anyway, anyway, anyway, no matter what, no matter what, no matter what, no matter how, no matter how, no matter how, no matter how How, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, the state plan will be under threat.

Mason Matthews, chief budget and finance officer of Los Angeles County CEO Fesia Davenport’s office, shared these broader budget issues. The county is the largest population in the United States, with about 10 million residents and a budget of about $49 billion and an estimated $5.3 billion in federal funding.

Matthews wrote that the “exact consequences” of the recent cessation in federal funding are “still unknown”, but another freeze poses high risks, threatening “a series of important commitments.” [county] Residents include but are not limited to health care, public safety actions, public welfare, labor development, foster care, child support, housing and emergency management. ”

Matthews wrote that an affected group will be families in need who receive cash assistance, employment services and childcare through the state’s CalWorks program, which the county receives over $2 billion in federal funding each year . He wrote that he would also be subject to child abuse as the county’s Department of Children and Family Services relied on $604.5 million in federal funds to investigate abuse and neglect and provide “supporting and treatment services” for such children.

Matthews wrote that since federal funds account for about 10% of the county’s budget, another freeze would create a “huge budget and administrative burden” for the county and “inevitably damage the daily lives of all county residents.” This is especially true given the devastating wildfires that burned the county last month already felt budgetary pressure.

“Retaining federal funds, coupled with ambiguity and uncertainty about which funds will be retained and how long, will cause irreparable harm and endanger critical responses and recovery efforts,” Matthews wrote. “Although the The county will take appropriate action to deal with the fire in Los Angeles County without reimbursement from federal funds, but other county key programs may be affected, such as providing housing options for homeless families and veterans.”