“If confusion and chaos were the goal—mission accomplished,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a tweet.
SAN ANTONIO — President Donald Trump plunged the U.S. government into panic and confusion on Tuesday by pausing federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives, setting the stage for a constitutional clash over control of taxpayer money.
Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants — a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations around the country — was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent blitz of executive orders. The Republican president wants to increase fossil fuel production, remove protections for transgender people and end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Later on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan temporarily blocked the action, minutes before it was set to go into effect. The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.
READ MORE HERE: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans
San Antonio officials responded to the freeze that has since been temporarily blocked.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a tweet:
“If confusion and chaos were the goal—mission accomplished.
Our FY 2025 budget includes $325 million in federal funding designated to support critical services such as staffing 50 police officers, implementing essential infrastructure improvements, and addressing vital needs within our community. These are your tax dollars being withheld from your communities.
We’ll be monitoring any new developments and are committed to keeping you all informed, San Antonio.”
San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh said in a statement:
“Last night the White House Office of Management and Budget asked all Federal agencies to pause all financial assistance (including federal grants and loans), ‘to the extent permissible under applicable law,’ to allow federal departments time to review programs to ensure they are consistent with recent executive orders. The implementation details are not clear. In short, we do not know which or to what extent City departments and programs may be impacted, until we receive further guidance.
In our current budget we have approximately $325.5 million in federal funds for operating programs and capital projects. We will continue to focus on delivering City services while we monitor the situation to better understand the implementation scope, timing and potential impact.”
KENS 5 will continue to update this article as more information develops.