Luján Statement on Trump Administration Efforts to Withhold Approved Federal Funding

Trump Effort Defies Federal Law, Constitution to Withhold Approved Federal Funding Impact on New Mexico Would Be Unprecedented Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s unlawful executive orders and new memoranda from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directing federal agencies to withhold federal funding that Congress has already appropriated: “The Trump administration’s unlawful and unprecedented effort to withhold approved federal funding should cause concern to every American. Every county in New Mexico – our families, businesses, and communities – will be severely impacted and critical services and programs threatened. “Billions of dollars for New Mexico and the nation are at stake. This will have a far-reaching impact across New Mexico, reducing health care access for working families, undercutting education programs for children, threatening research at the National Labs, rolling back our broadband efforts, holding funding for our specialty crop farmers, pausing VA transportation programs that help veterans get to medical appointments, and making it more difficult for law enforcement to keep our communities safe. This will create chaos and threaten local economies. “Let’s be clear: the Constitution holds that Congress holds the power of the purse. Congress is an equal branch of government. And now, Congress – Republicans and Democrats – must stand up to the president to ensure that the administration carries out the law.” A fact sheet detailing how presidents lack power to unilaterally override spending laws and deny enacted funding to communities through impoundment can be found here . ###