Right now, state agencies in Washington State are under direction to analyze what federal funding streams are inaccessible to them and create a plan on how to supplement that funding or how to move forward without it.
So far, KIRO 7 News has tracked more than $300 million in programs and projects that have been frozen, inaccessible, or otherwise unable to be spent, ranging from wildfire programs to improving all of the State’s seaports. Congressional offices, state agencies, and organizations tell KIRO 7 News the situation is constantly evolving as many groups only find out that funding is inaccessible when they go to draw out money.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources say around $100 million of federal funding for wildfire response, reimbursment, prevention, and grants for local departments to buy equipment has been halted.
Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s office reports a $54.2 million grant to expand the Port of Tacoma has been frozen, in addition to $100 million that has been granted to the Ports of Vancouver, Bellingham, Anacortes, Port Angeles, and Seattle for “clean port” improvements was also inaccessible.
WSDOT reports $102.2 million has been frozen for hydrogen fueling and EV chargers across the state.
The Washington Department of Commerce says its access to funding for the Solar for All program has been frozen as well, though it isn’t clear at this time how much funding is held up.
“These stories are popping up all across the country,” said Rep. Adam Smith, “It is a naked power grab that is challenging our constitution quite frankly.”
Smith, a Democrat representing the ninth district containing Renton, Federal Way, Kent and other communities, points to Congress’ power of the purse. Much, if not all of the funding, was allocated by the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, huge spending laws that were passed during the Biden White House.
“Congress approved the spending. It’s illegal to stop now.”
“Even after the Court ruled you couldn’t stop it, it was like a week ago for domestic programs, they’ve still stopped it. They are ignoring a court ruling.” Smith said.
The issue with frozen and inaccessible funding represents the few options Democrats have in stopping the Trump White House, and lately Elon Musk in the Department of Government Efficiency, from running roughshod with their agenda.
For example, one strategy has been legal challenges to executive orders and other actions. Attorneys General for 19 states announced Friday they are suing the Trump Administration over Musk’s access to Treasury Department data that contain social security numbers, bank accounts, and other sensitive data of Americans. Smith said there was hesitation, though, in picking that fight.
“It seems like Donald Trump and Elon Musk really want to do is. They want to get to the point where they can make decisions unchallenged,” Smith said.
“[Trump] gave Elon Musk this power to go in and look at this information,” Smith said, “Is that per se illegal? Now, what Elon Musk is going to to wind up doing with that information could certainly be illegal, but Donald Trump is President, he picked Elon Musk and said, go look at this. So is it illegal? I don’t know. It is horrifying.”
Two other strategies Democrats have are messaging and trying to convince their Republican allies. Smith sees the freezing of USAID and the attempted firing (that was blocked) of thousands of USAID workers as a good example.
USAID is part of what is known as American “Soft Power” that builds relationships with other nations through aid, grants, and other finances that help foster relationships with the United States. Smith says he’s trying to appeal to Republicans that this limiting aid, limits the nation’s influence and allies.
“I hope the United States of America hasn’t become the type of country where, ‘Screw you, if it’s in my best interest, I’m not going to live up to the commitment I made.’ We made commitments. People are going to starve to death because we’re breaking those contracts and commitments.” Smith said.
“It pushes [nations] towards Russia and China and the reason that’s a problem is because China and Russia want to use their autocratic power to froce their way of looking at the world on other people and that will eventually undermine our markets.” he continued.
