Gov. JB Pritzker and 16 Illinois Democrats have demanded the Trump administration release $1.88 billion in federal funding to Illinois in a letter sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. They warn that the lack of funding could lead to pausing operations, canceling projects, or laying off staff, impacting vulnerable people, local economies, and the state overall. However, Chair of the Illinois Republican Party Kathy Salvi dismissed these claims as political gamesmanship.
Salvi accused Pritzker of using the situation to further his political ambitions for a potential presidential run in 2028. She criticized Pritzker for his budget plan’s $3 billion deficit and called for more accountability in the allocation of funds.
Illinois was one of the initial states to sue the Trump administration to unfreeze federal funds, with a federal judge recently extending the block on the funding freeze. Other states, like Pennsylvania, have also resorted to legal action to release federal funds.
In response, Pritzker urged the Trump administration to uphold its promises and deliver taxpayer dollars back into Illinois’ economy. The letter highlighted the impact of the funding freeze on various state agencies and grantees, leading to system outages and lockouts preventing access to entitled funding. The Democrats called for transparency and accountability in the disbursement of federal funds to ensure the well-being of Illinois’ citizens and businesses.
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