Democratic lawmakers have accused the Trump administration of obstructing billions in federal funds that they claim could expire at the end of the month.
On Monday, Senators Patty Murray from Washington and Rosa Delauro from Connecticut, who lead the Senate and House Appropriations Committees respectively, pointed out that over $400 billion in federal funds are currently being withheld.
In a joint statement, they noted, “With only a few weeks left in the fiscal year, President Trump and his administration continue to deny hundreds of millions of dollars to families, farmers, children, small businesses, and communities across the country.”
This accusation aligns with recent estimates offered by Democratic budget analysts, who have expressed concern over the financial implications for millions due to targeted fundraising efforts by the administration.
In response, a senior administration official remarked on Monday, “If Murray and Delauro had any understanding of reality, they’d be wealthy.”
Efforts to gather comments from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the White House were made, but details are sparse.
This situation arises amid growing partisan tensions in Washington, where significant government restructuring is taking place. Congress faces a looming deadline of September 30 to pass legislation to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.
Among the key concerns listed were around $40 billion earmarked for foreign aid and development programs that Democrats claim have been halted or canceled, as well as competitive grants for the transportation sector.
The report reveals approximately $97 billion in FEMA-controlled grant funds that have been “frozen,” with Congress not receiving clear answers despite repeated inquiries about why funds have been withheld.
Furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been criticized for not processing over 2,600 grants related to life sciences, which are valued at around $8.9 billion.
Inquiries were also made to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the NIH for their input.
