Senator Hassan Raises Alarm About President Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze & Severe Impact on NH Services

WASHINGTON – Less than 24 hours after President Trump announced a wide-reaching federal funding freeze, halting nearly all federal grants and loans to support New Hampshire communities, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today detailed how the President’s illegal and unconstitutional action is already harming Granite Staters during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol.

Click here to see Senator Hassan’s full remarks on President Trump’s dangerous, illegal funding freeze and see an excerpt below:

“This action will hurt people all across the country. President Trump's order defunds police departments, even as law enforcement officers are trying to keep us safe. It imperils disaster relief as fires rage. It halts cancer research as we strive for cures, and it shuts down shelters for homeless veterans in the cold of winter.

“New Hampshire law enforcement agencies have told my office that the freeze of federal funding may force them to rescind job offers, meaning fewer cops on the streets. A New Hampshire organization that helps domestic violence survivors also told my office that it is now locked out of federal funding systems, which will significantly impact the crisis centers it runs for women.

“Let's be clear: this money is not the President's to freeze or take away. It was appropriated by Congress, and it belongs to the American people. To my Republican colleagues, I suggest that you have to decide what bridge it is, is too far… We cannot let America become a place where our leaders hold back the people's funds by day and purge the people's watchdogs by night.”

Moments ago, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze from proceeding until Monday, though the Trump Administration continues to pursue it. This illegal funding freeze has severe and broad-reaching impacts for services across New Hampshire. Programs impacted by this funding freeze include those that help hire police officers, support veterans, operate domestic violence shelters, provide access to health care, and nearly every federal program. Approximately 30% of New Hampshire’s state budget comes from federal funding.

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