Democratic lawmakers denounced the Trump administration’s refusal to release critical funds, leaving millions of Michiganders facing uncertainty.
Shink Condemns Funding Freeze as Michigan Communities Suffer
LANSING, Mich. – Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.) sharply criticized the Trump administration’s ongoing freeze on federal funding, calling it reckless and unconstitutional as Michigan families, nonprofits, and health care providers continue to suffer.
The funding freeze, which has impacted programs ranging from Medicaid and Head Start to food assistance and agriculture, remains in place despite two federal court rulings ordering the administration to release the money.
“Instead of providing solutions, Republicans in Washington have chosen to manufacture confusion, fear, and chaos at the expense of everyday Americans and the people of Michigan,” Sen. Shink said in a statement Friday. “One of the most devastating actions of Donald Trump’s second presidency so far has been this reckless and illegal freeze on funding. The result has been widespread panic and uncertainty for the very people who rely on these services to survive.”
Federal Funding Block Leaves 2.6 Million Michiganders at Risk
The impact of the funding freeze has been particularly devastating in Michigan, where more than 2.6 million residents rely on Medicaid for health care. Additionally, thousands of low-income families depend on Head Start programs for early childhood education, which now face potential closures due to a lack of funding.
In Sen. Shink’s district alone, Head Start serves over 1,100 children and employs 255 staff members—all of whom are now left wondering if their program will be able to continue operating.
Other vital services affected include:
- Food assistance programs serving vulnerable families and seniors.
- Health care providers and community health centers that depend on federal reimbursements.
- Farmers and rural communities relying on federal grants and subsidies to support local agriculture.
Courts Rule Against the Trump Administration, But Funding Remains Frozen
Despite two federal court rulings ordering the Trump administration to release the withheld funds, the White House has continued to resist. As recently as February 10, a federal judge ruled that the administration is still illegally withholding billions in federal funds.
Vice President J.D. Vance, defending the administration’s actions, has argued that the White House does not have to comply with federal court rulings—an assertion that legal experts warn poses a direct challenge to the constitutional separation of powers.
This stance has raised alarms among Democratic lawmakers, who see it as a dangerous precedent undermining the judicial branch’s authority and America’s system of checks and balances.
Michigan Democrats Demand Action to Restore Critical Services
Sen. Shink and her Democratic colleagues are calling for an immediate end to the funding freeze, urging the administration and Republican lawmakers to “stop harming Americans” and restore financial stability to critical programs.
“The Trump administration must comply with the law and release this funding immediately,” Shink stated. “Millions of people in Michigan and across the country are suffering because of this politically motivated chaos. It’s time to end the dysfunction and start governing for the people.”
While the administration has shown no signs of reversing course, pressure continues to mount from state officials, advocacy groups, and legal experts who warn of severe consequences if funding remains stalled.
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