Heinrich: Trump’s Blockade on Federal Funding Pummels New Mexicans and American Economy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is condemning President Trump’sunlawful direction to unilaterally blockade all federal grant funding.
“Our economy, our healthcare system, our schools, our law enforcement and fire departments, our newborns, our elders, our veterans – everyone, everywhere in New Mexico. President Trump is attempting to shove all of this over a cliff,”said Heinrich.“In New Mexico alone, Trump's blockade on federal funding will make it impossible for thousands to pay rent on February 1st, force tens of thousands of New Mexico students to drop out of college without Pell Grant funding, close hundreds of preschool programs across the state, deprive 7 out of 10 New Mexico children their daily lunch, and cut off federal Medicaid reimbursement – impacting 7 out of 10 nursing home residents, 55% of newborn births, and all health care providers in our state.”
Heinrich continued,“Trump is clearly willing to pummel New Mexicans and the American economy for his twisted and deranged agenda and fragile ego. But the Constitution is clear: the president cannot override, delay, or rescind Congress’s funding laws. We passed these laws to help working families get ahead and put food on the table and create jobs New Mexicans can build their families around. I will fight like hell to undo this brazen, barbaric blockade from this wannabe dictator and his weird billionaire lackeys.”
The Constitution explicitly gives Congress,not the president,the power of the purse. The president does not have the power to override spending laws that Congress has passed and the president has signed into law. Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution says:“No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”Fact sheets from the Senate and House Appropriations Committees detailing how presidents lack power to unilaterally override congressional spending laws and deny enacted funding to communities can be foundhereandhere.
Examples of the impacts of this funding blockade:
An extensive list of potentially impacted federal programs can be foundhere.
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