HARTFORD, Conn — Connecticut’s Attorney General claimed Tuesday that the Trump administration’s actions to freeze Federal spending were an “unprecedented and blatantly lawless and unconstitutional attack.” Other Democrats also blasted other orders from the president.
William Tong, Connecticut’s Attorney General, said in a statement, “This is a full assault on Connecticut families– an unprecedented and blatantly lawless and unconstitutional attack on every corner and level of our government and economy. Attorneys general across the country are preparing imminent legal action to protect our states. Connecticut and my team are front and center in this fight and will provide updates in real time to Connecticut as this unfolds. Today is not a day for politics– everyone irrespective of party should be standing with Connecticut against this devastating attack on our state.”
“This what a king does. This is not how a democracy works. One man does not decide how taxpayers’ money is spent so that it only gets sent to the President’s political friends, and it gets used to punish his political enemies,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “The scope of the damage that will be done is enormous to poor kids who rely on Head Start programs, to families who desperately need that cancer research done, to veterans who, if they miss one or two appointments, their life falls apart suddenly overnight.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) criticized the Trump Administration for pausing critical communications from federal health agencies, including warnings on disease outbreaks and food contamination. Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing a resolution calling for uninterrupted health warning services for the American people.
“Halting alerts about deadly disease outbreaks or food contamination serves no one. Just last year, ten people died after a listeria outbreak at a Boar’s Head facility – a number that might have been even higher if public agencies hadn’t been allowed to warn the public. Even in a time of deep political difference, we ought to agree that preventing the spread of deadly disease is a wise use of taxpayer dollars,” said Blumenthal.
Gian Carl Casa, President & CEO of CT Community Nonprofit Alliance, said of the spending freeze, “It has the potential to be devastating for men, for women, for children and families. Federal funding supports homeless and domestic violence shelters, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and programs for people with developmental disabilities. Taking away federal funding will cut a hole in the already-frayed safety net, through which tens of thousands of people who depend on nonprofit programs here will fall. To implement this kind of order without regard for the impact on living, breathing people is beyond comprehension.”
“The decision raises serious legal and ethical questions about the federal government’s ability to suspend funding that millions of Americans rely on for their well-being and we’re deeply worried this is a pre-emptive move to divert funds toward tax cuts for billionaires and the uber-wealthy.
The decision by the Republican administration could affect trillions of dollars and cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs and other initiatives. Even grants that have been awarded but not spent are supposed to be halted.”
“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,” said a memo from Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The pause takes effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, and it’s unclear from the memo how sweeping it will be. Vaeth said all spending must comply with Trump’s executive orders, which are intended to undo progressive steps on transgender rights, environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts.
Medicare and Social Security benefits won’t be affected by the pause in federal grants and loans. That’s according to the memo on the pause from Vaeth.
But there was no explanation of whether the pause would affect Medicaid, food stamps, disaster assistance and other programs. The memo said it should be implemented “to the extent permissible under applicable law.”
Last week Tong joined other states in a lawsuit against one of the many executive orders Trump signed into office on the first day of the new administration. The lawsuit challenges Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship in the United States. A federal judge in Washington state that issued a temporary restraining order, blocking Trump’s order.
Doug Stewart is the Digital Executive Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.