Gov. Walz calls Trump's federal funding freeze "stupid, buffoonish, childish," as organizations scramble
ST. PAUL, Minn. — State leaders in Minnesota, including Gov. Tim Walz, addressed President Trump's federal funding freeze Tuesday afternoon, calling the move "unprecedented" and "illegal."
A memo from the White House budget office called for a spending freeze on federal assistance by 4 p.m. Tuesday, which could affect everything from aid to nonprofits, universities, small business loans and state and local government grants. The freeze could have wide-ranging implications, with the White House noting that $3 trillion was spent in 2024 on federal assistance programs.
"While he was out golfing, he threw the country into crisis," Walz said at a press conference at the St. Paul YMCA on Tuesday. "This is not bold, it's not leadership. It's stupid, buffoonish, childish."
According to the Minnesota governor's office, the spending freeze threatens $1.8 billion in federal funding that the state receives every month. According to Minnesota Management Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell, it leaves the status of roughly 1,000 state programs unknown, and could impact several thousand state employees.
Medicaid takes up the largest portion of the $1.8 billion, but the other $850 million a month funnels funds to SNAP, MinnesotaCare, state highways, local airports, Section 8 housing, school meals, special education, heating assistance and county funding for child support, Campbell said. As a state, Minnesota's ability to fill the gap left by the freeze is "very limited," she added.
A White House memo said the freeze would not affect Medicare or Social Security, but the web portals were at one point down on Tuesday, causing issues for Minnesota officials who were trying to submit a nearly $400 million reimbursement, said Campbell.
Minnesota as a state pays more into the federal government than it receives, Walz said.
"Those are our dollars that he is stealing, unconstitutionally," he added. "Congress as I served, as Attorney General Ellison served, appropriates the dollars. This is so far beyond the pale to try to pull these dollars back."
Nearly two dozen Democratic attorneys general, including Ellison, are filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop him from instituting the freeze. Ellison said Trump's actions usurp the power of Congress, and the administration doesn't have the power to stop funding to the state.
Late Tuesday, just as the directive was set to go into place, a federal judge issued a stay against the spending freeze until at least Monday at 5 p.m. to allow for further litigation.
Meanwhile, Walz said that agencies are "prepared to implement" because "unlike Donald Trump we follow the law."
Ellison pushed for Minnesotans to call their members of Congress to voice their opinion. Rep. Tom Emmer, who represents the northwestern suburbs of the Twin Cities as well as parts of central Minnesota, is cited in Politico applauding Trump's freeze, saying that he is "doing exactly what he was elected to do."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday this is a "temporary pause" to make sure these agencies are not conflicting with President Trump's executive actions and orders.
Spending freeze could impact emergency response
Minnesota's response to emergencies could also be impacted by a federal spending freeze.
Every county in Minnesota has an emergency management department to prepare for and respond to hazardous events such as severe weather or health emergencies.
"Our predominant function is to do planning, training and exercising for large-scale disasters," said Kristen Tschida, the emergency management director for Benton County.
Tschida is also the president of the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers.
Recent events emergency managers and their staffs have worked on include the Rapidan Dam failure, historic flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic.
They respond to emergencies when they happen, partnering with organizations like the Red Cross and law enforcement. They also work to mitigate and prevent disaster before it happens, including doing drills in schools.
Tschida says local emergency management budgets mostly consist of federal dollars. She says that funding has been declining for years, and budgets are now at risk of being slashed.
"As government funding gets less and less, you're going to start to see programs go away," Tschida said. "It is kind of a foregone conclusion. It's just a matter of time."
WCCO asked Tschida if a freeze makes Minnesotans less safe.
"Present day, no," she said. "Down the road, yes absolutely."
A bipartisan bill is currently being drafted at the Minnesota Capitol to direct a total of $12 million of state funds to the more than 100 emergency preparedness offices in Minnesota.
"We've seen the needs with local emergency management offices increase, especially as disasters have been changing and increasing at a rate, so we're hopefully going to see it this session with our bill," said Emilio Lamba, a public safety policy analyst for the Association of Minnesota Counties.
Lamba and Tschida both emphasized that the issue is not a political one.
"It's not red versus blue," Tschida said. "We need to come together as a state, as a community, to...ensure safety, security, good response practices for the citizens of Minnesota."
Tschida says the state hasn't given any guidance on what the possible spending freeze means for their offices.
People who use Meals on Wheels, Medicaid concerned about potential freeze
For Clyde Green, his Meals on Wheels delivery is more than just a convenience, it is a way to regulate his blood sugar levels.
"What I eat all comes from Meals on Wheels if it wasn't for Meals on Wheels, I wouldn't have food I could afford," Green said.
What once was steady could quickly become a struggle with the federal funding freeze threatening the stability of the program.
Ellie Hollander is the CEO of Meals on Wheels and says the uncertainty is unsettling for senior citizens.
"The actual support from Meals on Wheels goes from federal government to states down through eventually to Meals on Wheels provider who deliver," Hollander said.
The local director of the program says 60% of its expenses are covered by the federal government.
Ana George doesn't know what she'd do without Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota.
"My meds are a little more than $15,000 a month," George said. "How am I supposed to pay for stuff without a job?"