Dear Community Member,

As you may have heard, President Trump and his administration attempted to issue a “pause” on federal agency grants, loans, and other assistance. You can read the full memo here, issued by the President's Office of Management and Budget.

The Constitution prevents a president from overriding Congressional appropriations. The power of the purse alone lies with the Congressional representatives elected by the people. Congress approved these investments. They are not optional; they are the law.

For now, our system of checks and balances has halted the President's freeze of federal funds. A federal district judge has granted an administrative stay, pausing the administration’s plan and setting a hearing for further arguments next Monday morning. Like the President's unconstitutional executive order overturning birthright citizenship and core tenets of the 14th Amendment, there will be further litigation.

If the President's federal funding freeze goes into effect, it will hurt working families struggling to get by. As written, this action by the administration could block significant federal investment, sowing chaos nationwide, hurting everyday Americans and businesses, killing jobs, and undermining our public safety, national security, and emergency preparedness. Even the uncertainty over whether the administration is planning to cut federal funding for working families, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, children, students, and our community here in California’s 19th Congressional District is damaging to long-term planning.

Before the President took this far-reaching action, my office was already pushing back strongly on funds frozen by the new administration. As part of a coalition of over 150 Members of the House, I demanded full disclosure and transparency on the infrastructure and clean energy projects it has placed in limbo. I intend to continue to conduct vigorous oversight over the administration’s missteps and ensure full accountability.

If you or your organization have experienced issues with federal support, please contact me as soon as possible. Hearing the real impact this order is having on people and groups on the ground is how we can best advocate for California’s 19th Congressional District and its working families.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California