The top Democratic congressional appropriators are scolding the White House budget office for temporarily pausing “all federal financial assistance” besides Social Security and Medicare, saying it undermined Congress’s power over the purse and would rob communities of critical resources.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said the move would “sow chaos” if it goes into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, as ordered by the memo from President Trump’s Office of Budget and Management.
“The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country,” they wrote late Monday to OMB Acting Director Matthew J. Vaeth. “We write today to urge you in the strongest possible terms to uphold the law and the Constitution and ensure all federal resources are delivered in accordance with the law.”
The letter also said Russ Vought, whom Mr. Trump nominated to lead OMB, has a track record of trying to subvert Congress’ will and get around appropriation laws.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said his state’s attorney general, Letitia James, planned to sue over the memo.
“This decision is lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel. It’s illegal, unconstitutional,” Mr. Schumer said.
SEE ALSO: White House orders freeze on ‘all federal financial assistance’
The administration ordered the pause late Monday in a two-page memo. The move could disrupt tens of billions of dollars in payments for domestic infrastructure projects, climate initiatives, foreign aid and diversity education that is disbursed to states and local governments.
It also creates confusion both in Washington and in the states as officials scramble to figure out how to navigate the pause. The memo does not detail how the funding will be paused.
“Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending ’wokeness’ and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again,” the memo said.
“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” it said.
Democratic appropriators said the memo fits a pattern in which Mr. Trump issued aggressive executive actions that might not stand up in court.
“This administration’s actions will have far-reaching consequences for nearly all federal programs and activities, putting the financial security of our families, our national security and the success of our country,” the lawmakers wrote.
The OMB memo said federal agencies are required to “identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements.”
The reports are due by Feb. 10.
A senior administration official defended the memo by saying the pause is not permanent and is designed to ensure that funding comports with Mr. Trump’s priorities.
The official compared the pause to agency efforts to stop the flow of money to the World Health Organization after Mr. Trump announced the U.S.’s decision to withdraw.
The pause could be as short as a day if the funds do not conflict with administration policies, according to the official.
Yet Ms. DeLauro, speaking on CNN, said her office was fielding tons of calls from constituents confused about the order. She said agencies don’t know what should be funded and what should not.
“If they don’t know, then nothing is safe,” Ms. DeLauro said, adding Mr. Trump was poised to hurt his supporters.
The memo made it clear that Medicare and Social Security will not be affected. It also said exceptions could be made on a “case-by-case basis.”
• Jeff Mordock contributed to this story.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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