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Governor Kotzeck urges withdrawal of federal proposal that could politicize $25.5 billion in Oregon aid
Summary
Governor Kotzeck said a proposed change by the Trump administration would let political appointees review federal funding decisions and could disrupt services paid for by about $25,500,000,000 in federal funds; he said Oregon has sent a letter asking the administration to withdraw the proposal.
Governor Kotzeck called on Oregonians to oppose a federal proposal he said would shift decisions about federal grant awards from Congress and career reviewers to political appointees.
"The Trump administration wants to change the rules and how funds are awarded," Kotzeck said, warning that the change could let officials cut funding from programs that serve health care, food assistance, schools, roads, wildfire preparation and emergency response.
Kotzeck said Oregon relies on federal dollars to provide everyday services and cited a figure for last year: "Oregon relied on about $25,500,000,000 in federal funding to help provide these essential services." He said that when funding is delayed or taken away, "projects stop, services get cut, and people are left waiting for help," and that smaller organizations and rural communities often feel those impacts first.
Explaining Oregon's response, Kotzeck said, "That's why Oregon sent a letter to the Trump administration asking them to withdraw this proposal entirely." He framed the proposal as an overreach, saying it "would let the administration override decisions made by Congress, violate the separation of powers, and turn federal funding — your tax dollars — into a political tool." No federal response to that letter was included in the message.
Kotzeck closed by urging vigilance about changes that could affect state services, saying he would not "stay silent when Washington puts Oregon's ability to serve people at risk." The governor ended the address, thanking listeners.
