For Immediate Release: January 28, 2025
Contact: media@colorofchange.org
COLOR OF CHANGE REACTS TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S HALT TO ALL FEDERAL AID FUNDING, URGES CONGRESS TO RESPOND
NATIONAL – This week, President Donald Trump’s budget office ordered a total freeze of all federal aid payments, effective today at 5PM. The halt in funding is intended to stop all payments that fall under previous executive orders, including those related to DEI, climate, and healthcare, until they are compliant.
The suspension was announced via a two-page memo released yesterday. While it excludes Social Security and Medicare from the programs affected, there was no clear indication of which services are being investigated and for how long. The order could affect the disbursement of trillions of federal funds to state and local governments, disrupting the operations of countless government-supported programs.
Pausing federal funding will have a devastating impact on essential programs that Black communities rely on. People in need of food, education, mental health, and climate aid will be at risk of eviction, hunger, loss of necessary medical attention, and other life-threatening situations.
Portia Allen-Kyle, Interim Executive Director of Color Of Change, issued the following statement:
“The Trump Administration continues to enact cruelty as public policy in its latest move halting federal funding. After using his executive power to make intentional attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and attempting to reverse decades of civil rights efforts, Trump is now working to further harm Black communities by halting necessary services. It is clear that Black people stand to be most harmed by this funding freeze, no matter how temporary, and it is up to Congress to work double time to stop all of the White House’s attempts to break our democracy until they are unequivocally challenged and defeated.”
Congress creates, approves, and disburses the federal budget; the Trump Administration’s order is yet another example of overreach in its attempt to unconstitutionally seize power over national funds. Still, since the federal funding memo was released, there has been no response from Congress, indicating their silent complicity.
“Unless Congress takes a stand against this Administration’s actions, countless families and individuals will pay the price. This is not just about legality, it is about the livelihoods of Black people and communities. We will not stand quietly as this egregious wrong is made to our community, and we will continue to fight until justice is real.”
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Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by millions of members, we move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.