The federal government owes Illinois nearly $2 billion in funding, according to the governor and lawmakers, who are looking to Washington for answers.
According to Gov. JB Pritzker, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and the Illinois Democratic congressional delegation, several state departments do not receive federal funds. They also claim that a lack of clarity has made the future funding of the agencies uncertain, despite President Donald Trump’s intention to pause certain grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs.
The continued withholding of funding has “forced many to pause operations, cancel projects, or cut staff,” according to a letter they sent to Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
What Illinois agencies do not receive funding and what do they do? Here’s what you should know.
What agencies are not receiving funding?
According to the letter, nine state agencies, boards, and commissions are unable to access $692 million in federal funds that have been “obligated but not yet received.”
Additionally, 10 state agencies, boards, and commissions have a total of $1.19 billion in federal funds “anticipated/awarded but not yet obligated, and the grants/programs are essentially paused.”
The departments include:
- Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Illinois Community College Board
- Illinois Emergency Management Agency
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
What is the purpose of the letter?
The authors stated that the funds in question were passed by Congress, signed into law, and promised to Illinois.
They additionally claimed that the funds were “contractually agreed to, allocated, and planned around by their recipients—which include childcare providers, educational institutions, small businesses, community and economic development organizations, and more.”
How long has this been happening?
Problems began on Jan. 28 after the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a directive to federal agencies the day before to “temporarily pause all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.”
That day, there were “widespread reports of system outages and lockouts that prevented grantees from accessing entitlement funding.” Attempts to communicate with government liaisons were frequently ignored, and White House public statements contradicted our grantees’ experiences.
Since then, the legislators stated that they have continued to receive reports from agencies and organizations detailing their inability to access funds.
What do these agencies do?
“These frozen funds impact programs that provide technical assistance for small businesses, provide affordable solar energy for low-income residents, improve roads and bridges,” the contents of the letter state.
According to their website, the Commerce and Economic Opportunity Department’s mission is to “create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois.” “By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.”
The Illinois General Assembly established the Illinois Community College Board in 1965 “to create a system of public community colleges that would be within easy reach of every resident,” according to their website.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is in charge of better preparing the state for natural, manmade, or technological disasters, hazards, or acts of terrorism.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s mission is to “safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State of Illinois, so as to protect health, welfare, property, and the quality of life,” according to their website. According to the website, the Illinois General Assembly was the first state legislature in the United States to pass a comprehensive EPA Act, which helped to establish the state agency in 1970.
What else is Illinois doing about it?
Gov. Pritzker traveled to Washington D.C. this week to meet with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and talk about the issue, among other reasons for the visit, according to the governor’s office.
