Federal costs freeze threatens ecosystems and public safety

Environmental defenders have warned that the order may have immediate and serious consequences for Americans if it comes into force.

“From the White House, this is a reckless blow to a pen,” said Manish Bapna, President of the Council for the Protection of Natural Resources, in a statement. “On earth, it’s a cold home in the winter. A child is hungry at school. This is a family that cannot pay the rent. This is higher costs for low-income homes in every country. “

The list of programs includes dozens at the Ministry of Interior Security, which includes the Federal Agency for Emergency Management. Samantha Montano, an emergency management assistant at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said the pause for help could effectively stop the agency programs that help the state and local authorities prepare and recover from disasters.

“I think it is fair to say that the pause of all federal grants would have a horrific effect on the emergency management system in the US,” she said. “This would have made us less prepared for all disasters that occur in the future and would make it difficult for the survivors of disasters that are in full swing to try to restore their lives to do so.”

These offices are not focused purely on time -related disasters, Montana said.

“We are also talking about grants, terrorism, cybersecurity,” she added. “This is a complete national security at risk when you take away these grants.”

Throughout the country, state agencies and non-profit organizations have already been excluded from a federal system for access to grants, said Maria Lopez-Nunes, co-founder of the agency, consultative company for environmental justice. It has listed a wide range of programs that are potentially affected – from grant in North Carolina to help rural communities access sewer and clean water to state governmental water pipes.

For many smaller non -profit organizations, delaying access to federal funding for grants can leave them unable to make salaries, she said or finished their programs.

“They freeze key, the necessary funding for grants that many countries need vital services,” says Lopez-Nunes, who was a member of the Consulting Board for Environment Justice during the White House during the Biden administration.

In North Carolina, where communities are still recovering from the hurricane Helen, a spokesman for the State Department of Environment or DEQ, said the Agency “reviews and evaluates” the note and its potential influences, adding: “Federal funds provide a significant part from the DEQ operational budget as well as billions of dollars for North Carolina Community. “

The agencies ‘instructions have listed more than 400 programs in the US Ministry of Agriculture, Emergency Aid for Food Assistance to Support Farmers’ Markets and Water Save Initiatives. One of the largest, most popular and effective initiatives of the department, the preservation program is also listed.

Many legal experts have said they are skeptical of the legality of stopping funds. While some have said presidents can temporarily refuse Walking in some circumstances, others said that the actions directed by the note clearly violate the constitutional boundaries.

“The law is unambiguous: Congress controls federal costs and no enforcement actions can circumvent this body,” said Jillian Blanchard, director of climate change and environmental justice for good governance lawyers. “This order not only violates the Constitution, but threatens the critical programs and communities relying on this funding, which will affect hundreds of jobs across the country.”

The order comes as some science, environment and energy programs are already stopping their work. On Monday, NPR reports that the National Scientific Foundation canceled its panels for the review of grants scheduled for this week. Numerous news organizations report that the Ministry of Energy has stopped billions of dollars for loans, grants and other costs.

This article was contributed by the news reporters from the climate Georgina Gustin and Lisa Sorg.