Lawmakers warn federal funding freeze would hit schools, housing and health programs; bill would bar DCYF from seizing foster children's Social Security

Sen. Robinson said reports that federal grant funding could be halted are “very alarming” and warned that Washington relies heavily on federal dollars for K‑12 education, higher education, housing vouchers, homelessness services, domestic violence services, Medicaid and federally qualified health centers.

“If federal funding goes away, we do not have the ability to backfill that,” Robinson said, urging caution as lawmakers monitor unfolding federal decisions. She said the state will need to see whether reported freezes are implemented and what their actual scope will be in coming days and weeks.

Separately, a questioner noted a bill introduced last week by Senators Mornick and Alvarado that would stop the Department of Children, Youth, and Families from taking Social Security benefits from foster children. The same questioner said DCYF is seeking $12,000,000 for fiscal 2025–27 to backfill the revenue loss if the practice ends.

Sen. Robinson and staff said the policy has broad support on policy grounds but faces fiscal constraints in the current budget environment. A staff member cautioned that “any bill that has a fiscal impact … is gonna have challenge,” and that the foster‑benefits bill will be weighed alongside other moneyed priorities.

Lawmakers did not announce formal support or a vote; the session recorded the bill’s introduction and the agency’s funding request but did not resolve the policy or the funding mechanism. Robinson said members of Congress and senators will hear constituent feedback about federal decisions and that member‑to‑member conversations at the Legislature are ongoing.