Senator Murray Comments on Illegal Trump Administration Directives to Withhold Vast Swaths of Congressionally-Approved Federal Funding
Murray: “The scope of this illegal action is unprecedented and could have devastating consequences across the country for real people. We could see a screeching halt to resources for child care, housing, police officers, opioid addiction treatment, rebuilding roads and bridges, and even disaster relief efforts.”
Murray: “I am also urging Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham—a fellow appropriator—to hold Russ Vought’s nomination. Republicans should not advance this nomination out of committee until the Trump administration follows the law.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) for a press conference raising the alarm on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo issued by the Trump administration last night that directs agencies to freeze vast swaths of federal funding passed into law by Republicans and Democrats alike.
Last night, Murray and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro sent a letter to Acting OMB Director Matthew J. Vaeth raising the alarm on President Trump's unlawful executive orders and the new memoranda issued by OMB on Monday directing agencies to withhold vast swaths of approved federal funding.
A fact sheet on the issue of the impoundment is available HERE.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“Look, we were coming here to discuss a very simple resolution on a different kind of lawlessness by the President in response to him pardoning violent criminals and insurrectionists who attacked police officers.
“That resolution—so you know—read very simply, in its entirety: ‘RESOLVED: that the Senate disapproves of any pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers.’ You’ll hear more from me and others regarding this resolution later on the floor.
“But we are here today to respond to the OMB memo issued by the Trump administration last night.
“In a brazen and illegal move, the Trump administration is working to freeze vast swaths of federal funding passed into law by Republicans and Democrats alike.
“The scope of this illegal action is unprecedented and could have devastating consequences across the country for real people.
“We could see a screeching halt to resources for child care, housing, police officers, opioid addiction treatment, rebuilding roads and bridges, and even disaster relief efforts. Trump was just in California to witness the devastation and now he is holding back that aid.
“Trump’s actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities. This is funding that communities are expecting, and this memo has sown chaos and confusion about whether these resources will be available to them.
“Entire budgets and payrolls across the country are carefully hinging on these resources—we are talking about small towns, our cities, our school districts, our universities, and a lot more.
“Will local Head Start facilities get their funding? Will grantees at any of our local universities get the funding they need to continue clinical trials? What does this mean for homeless veterans we are working to get housed?
“Americans should ask themselves: is it woke to fund cancer research or to rebuild unsafe bridges?
“All of these critical priorities are funded by the grants that the Trump administration would pause tonight.
“This illegal move is a massive, massive overreach by the Trump administration. The American people did not vote for this kind of senseless chaos.
“So, I am also urging Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham—a fellow appropriator—to hold Russ Vought’s nomination that was supposed to move this Thursday. Republicans should not advance this nomination out of committee until the Trump administration follows the law.
“The law is the law—the Trump administration must immediately reverse course, follow the requirements of the law, and ensure the nation’s spending laws are implemented as Congress intended.”
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