Trump Took Your Money. State Leaders Are Fighting to Get It Back | Opinion
Summary
President Donald Trump has blocked or delayed $177 billion in federal funds that Congress approved to help states with services like education, health care, and disaster relief. Many state leaders, including attorneys general, are suing the federal government to recover this money and protect these services.Key Facts
- President Trump has withheld billions of dollars in federal money promised to states since early 2025.
- The withheld funds affect programs such as reduced electric bills, teacher programs, DNA testing for sexual assault survivors, and food assistance.
- Congress approves federal spending, and the Constitution does not allow the president to stop these funds.
- A project called Lost Funds shows that all 50 states and Washington, D.C. have been hurt by these blocked funds.
- Attorneys general from 22 states and D.C. sued the federal government and won a court order to restore some frozen funding in 2025.
- Despite the ruling, the Trump administration continued to cut funding, leading to more state lawsuits.
- In November 2025, SNAP food aid funding freeze left over 40 million Americans without access to food assistance until states sued.
- Most Americans do not support the president’s power to withhold money that Congress has approved, according to an August 2026 poll.
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