Pritzker: White House withholding $1.88B in funding for Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. Pritzker and various members of the Illinois congressional delegation have sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to demand accountability for $1.88 billion in federal funding being withheld from the state.

Last month, the White House said it would temporarily halt federal funding to ensure that the payments complied with President Donald Trump’s agenda.

The administration rescinded a memo outlining its planned funding freeze after a federal judge issued a restraining order, blocking the federal spending pause. Since then, nearly two dozen states have filed lawsuits, arguing that the funding freeze violates their First Amendment rights.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, said the case is moot because the memo was rescinded.  

The DOJ has also said the administration still plans to freeze some funds that target issues such as gender identity, foreign aid, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 

According to Pritzker, as of mid-February, Illinois agencies still report an inability to access funds, including the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Department of Labor, and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

The letter, addressed to OMB Director Russell Vought, reads, “On behalf of our constituents, we are seeking full transparency and accountability on any and all funding that has been paused or interrupted. If the Trump Administration is unable to follow the law and uphold their end of the deal, the people of our state deserve to know.”

In addition to Gov. Pritzker, the letter is signed by Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and other Illinois Democrats.