Confusion and worry quickly spread Tuesday among charitable groups and state and local governments as the Trump administration put a freeze on federal grants. Even with legal challenges, some say the fear in states such as North Dakota could be real.
The White House issued a memo ordering agencies to "temporarily pause all activities" related to distribution of federal financial assistance. Officials stressed it's meant for programs to show their priorities align with the new administration, and said direct aid for programs such as Social Security and SNAP won't be disrupted.
However, Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, noted the psychological effect in this part of the United States.
"The Dakotas, for example, are in the top 10 [states] of having per capita oldest populations in the United States," he said. "So, it would be much more important to have these programs on time and ready to go, rather than this chaos we're seeing."
With programs such as Meals on Wheels, he said, unexpected headlines about their funding status makes seniors feel uneasy about meeting day-to-day needs. A judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the pause from taking effect, but that court order only lasts until next Monday. Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress took issue with the administration's actions, with questions about legal authority.
Critics of the move said even a temporary pause in funding could be harmful to services such as Head Start, or suicide-prevention hotlines. Fiesta said he worries that some programs could look very different after agencies are "reviewed" by White House budget leaders. He warned that pursuing government efficiency in chaotic fashion doesn't really help taxpayers.
"We could see much more strain on the health-care system, in general, on hospitals," he said. "You could see a ripple effect because of inability to get care."
He pointed out that Medicaid plays a big role in funding rural health-care networks, including nursing home costs.
Policy experts have said drastic cuts, no matter how they're carried out, could put more pressure on state budgets.
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Worker's rights advocates and nursing home providers say Washington has a long-term care workforce crisis, and that inadequate benefits in the nursing home industry are part of the problem.
Legislation moving through Olympia - known as the Essential Worker Healthcare Program - would provide affordable health insurance to nursing home workers.
Alicia Harris is a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, at a skilled nursing facility. She said a family of four has to pay $1,200 a month for insurance, with a high deductible and a 30% co-pay.
"It's money that we could be putting towards, you know, groceries," said Harris. "We could be putting towards rent, savings. It's tough."
Nursing home employers who join the new program would receive a payment from the state to provide at least platinum level health plans, which would be matched by Medicaid.
Employees could participate for about $50 a month.
Supporters of the legislation say poor nursing home benefits fuel an extremely high CNA turnover rate. Harris said when there isn't enough staff, the residents don't get the care they deserve.
"I love my residents," said Harris. "I love doing what I do, and I would hate to leave them just because of health insurance. But at the same time, it is a financial burden on me and my family."
Over the next ten years, the number of people who need long-term care in Washington, especially nursing home care, is expected to grow rapidly.
At the current rate, there won't be enough skilled care-givers to meet the need. Two Essential Workers Healthcare Program bills are currently in committee in Olympia.
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The Trump administration has frozen funds used for abandoned mine land cleanup.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress invested around $11 billion into a trust fund to help address the backlog of sites needing reclamation but the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has stopped releasing the money.
Chelsea Barnes, director of government affairs and strategy for the advocacy group Appalachian Voices, said with ongoing flooding in eastern Kentucky, heavy rainfall can worsen problems on abandoned mine sites, triggering erosion, landslides and "blowout" events, leading to property damage.
"There's a buildup of water and then it all of a sudden, releases really fast," Barnes explained. "That can go downstream, down a mountainside and crash into homes, businesses, destroy roads."
In addition to tackling environmental hazards, research shows cleanup projects also create jobs. One analysis by the Sierra Club found investing in reclamation will create nearly 3,000 jobs and billions in economic growth in a handful of Appalachian states.
While some states have decided to operate business as usual, assuming federal funds will be unlocked soon, Barnes noted for others, the freeze has halted projects.
"Maybe they have enough money on hand to kind of keep things rolling for a little bit," Barnes acknowledged. "But the longer this goes on, the worse it's going to get."
She emphasized water polluted with metals and chemicals from mining can seep into waterways and kill fish and other aquatic life, and contaminate drinking water. She added federal funds are often used for acid mine drainage cleanup.
"A cleanup project for that might look like a water treatment facility to clean up an old acid mine drainage site," Barnes observed.
There are 12,000 acres of disturbed former mine land in eastern Kentucky which could be reclaimed to reduce environmental and safety hazards, according to a 2024 report by the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center.
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Minnesota is little less than a year away from launching its paid-leave law, but state lawmakers are debating whether to delay the start until 2027.
Paid leave was considered one of the crowning achievements of the 2023 legislative session, when Democrats controlled both chambers. But the GOP now has a slight edge in the House, so the policy is getting a second look.
Employers will be required to provide up to 20 weeks of paid time off each year to a worker dealing with a health issue, or caring for a loved one. During committee debate Thursday, Minnesota AFL-CIO president Bernie Burnham argued against pushing things back.
"Working Minnesotans are ready for the peace of mind that comes from knowing we will have the freedom to care for ourselves, and the people we love, without sacrificing a paycheck," she said.
Supporters of the later start date have said there's still uncertainty about the impact on businesses, especially smaller companies, as they prepare to comply. Others testified there aren't enough safeguards in place yet for the state to smoothly roll out the program. But Burnham said the effort has been vetted, and any kinks can be sorted out after the currently scheduled launch of January 2026.
Some voices in the education field testified in support of the bill calling for a one-year delay. Kim Lewis, associate director of government relations for the Minnesota School Boards Association, said the timing isn't good for school districts around the state.
"A significant number of the 331 districts are currently making staffing cuts to balance budgets," she said. "No one wants to do that, but the increased costs and the increased needs are a reality. Our biggest issue and question is, how do we pay for the paid leave benefit?"
But the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, which represents more than 18-thousand state workers, has said not only would this halt a critical benefit they've fought for over the past decade, but also result in additional administrative costs for the state.
Minnesota set aside funds to help cover the program's launch. After that, benefits would be funded by payroll taxes shared by employers and workers.
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