Brown and Sykes Highlight Harmful Risk of Trump’s Illegal Funding Freeze in Press Conference

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) joined Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13) for a virtual press conference calling attention to how Trump’s illegal funding freeze cold harm everyday people in Northeast Ohio. 

Congresswoman Brown criticized Trump’s action on Tuesday and joined 150 House Democrats in demanding transparency from the White House on what grants will be impacted.

Congresswoman Brown has also setup an online form for constituents and local stakeholders to share information on concerns or problems they are experiencing due to the freeze.

Congresswoman Brown delivered the following remarks during the call:

Thank you all for being here and thank you to my friend and colleague Congresswoman Sykes for organizing this call. 

I’m Congresswoman Shontel Brown, representing Ohio’s 11^th Congressional District. 

I want to start by saying that what the Trump Administration is attempting to do is lawless, reckless, and unconstitutional. 

Let’s be clear on two points: In America, we have a President – not a king. And in America, the power of the purse lies with Congress – not a would-be tyrant intent on steering the country into a disaster of his own creation.

This is really an unprecedented attempt to ignore the law and it’s already being challenged in court. 

If you want to cut the federal budget – pass a bill to do so. 

Like every other President in the history of this country has had to do. 

This is an insult to the people of Ohio and the people of America to operate this way – issuing a two-page memo that essentially shuts down the government overnight. 

One week into office, Trump is causing chaos and confusion. And he is playing games with grants and loans and services people need in order to score political points. It’s not just reckless—its reprehensible. 

My office has heard from people concerned about school lunch programs… community health centers… meals on wheels, and more. 

There are federal grant programs supporting local police departments, grants going to veterans service organizations like Fisher House… child care providers… FEMA loans… Small Business Loans… I could go on and on. 

These are appropriated funds that Congress passed. 

And this is what makes me angry. 

21% of my district is living in poverty, including 30% of kids under 18. 

In Cleveland we need federally supported child care, we need federally supported community health care providers, we need federally supported education programs like Head Start. And 

This is playing politics with people’s lives. 

The White House needs to put a stop to this illegal freeze immediately. 

In the meantime, we’ve been working over the last two days to gather information and keep stakeholders informed. 

My office has also demanded transparency from the White House – they have to specify what they’re doing. 

And as we receive key updates we will share them with our constituents. 

Unfortunately, this is one more sign that Trump has no plan to actually lower costs for anyone – in fact this freeze would do the opposite. 

It could freeze funding for heating assistance in the middle of brutal winter here in Cleveland. It would cut off nutrition benefits for pregnant, breastfeeding women, infants, and children under 5 – right as food prices are rising again. 

And it would freeze funding for children with disabilities. 

This is beyond cruel – it is hateful. 

And I will work with my colleagues on the call and across the caucus to fight it tooth and nail. 

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