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County CEO warns federal grant freeze could imperil local services; recommends short-term measures
Summary
Anaconda Deer Lodge County CEO Everett told commissioners an executive order froze many federal grants, briefly disrupting payroll and putting programs such as WIC and immunizations at risk; he urged the commission to consider short-term county funding to cover Head Start and other services while officials seek clarity.
Anaconda — County Chief Executive (CEO) Everett told the Anaconda Deer Lodge County Commission on Jan. 28 that an executive order issued the previous evening had, in practice, halted many federal grant systems and created immediate uncertainty for local programs.
"Last night at 05:00, President Trump made an executive order cutting off all federal funding to different grants," Everett said, adding staff were scrambling to determine which programs would be affected. He said Head Start payroll was preserved by transferring $40,000 from a county-held Head Start mill-levy account to another Head Start account to cover an imminent payroll run.
The briefing outlined programs that face unclear short-term funding: WIC and immunization services in public health, victim/witness advocacy positions, and large infrastructure grants such as a roughly $21 million federal award for Mill Creek Highway improvements. "Those dollars are not moving as well," Everett said. "We really don't know right now." He stressed legal challenges were already being mounted to the executive action and that timelines were uncertain.
Commissioners pressed on impacts to housing and benefits. One commissioner asked whether Section 8 housing, Medicaid and other entitlement programs were at risk; Everett replied, "Honestly, the answer is we don't know yet. We've heard different things… Medicare and Social Security will not be affected," but declined to confirm specifics without official guidance.
Everett proposed the county be prepared to provide short-term funding to critical services if federal payments do not resume, suggesting 30- or 60-day bridge funding subject to commission approval. "If we do not step in, what will happen is basically our Head Start program will cease to exist," he said, noting the community consequences if teachers and child-care slots disappear.
Local stakeholders at the meeting and a county editor urged outreach to state and federal representatives and a public forum so residents could understand likely impacts. Everett said congressional and agency offices were overwhelmed and that officials hoped clarity would arrive within days; he said he might call an emergency commission session if necessary.
County staff said they will compile a list of programs that could be affected and return with recommendations on possible short-term actions.
Next steps: commissioners asked Everett to report back with a list of affected programs and recommended actions; no formal emergency appropriation was made at the meeting.
