Trump federal funding pause: Metro Detroit child care center concerned for future
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - It has been a busy few days for the new Trump administration as they brought about more sweeping changes early this week, including military orders and a pause in federal funding, as the president moves into his second week in office.
Local perspective:
In Metro Detroit, a childcare center feels like they are on shaky ground after the administration made their planned pause on federal grants and loans.
Betty Henderson is the owner of Angels of Essence Day Care, and says she started the center 25 years ago because her son was ill, and she had to stay home and take care of him.
Though, after all that time, she feels her labor of love could soon disappear after Trump's announcement to pause on federal grants and loans at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
She worries funding for her center's Head Start programs could vanish.
What we know:
By Tuesday afternoon, the Trump Administration provided clarity on its executive order, stating the pause is for programs ending DEI, the Green New Deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.
This means funds for programs like Head Start will not be paused.
"I was pretty somber some hours ago with just devastation, but I just feel like this burden has been lifted," Henderson said.
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What's next:
Meanwhile, as businesses like Henderson's daycare work on planning its future, state lawmakers are busy mapping out a plan to combat the executive order.
"I was on the phone until 2 a.m. quite literally last night when the news of this broke," said Representative Debbie Dingell. "We are working with lawyers right now. We are working to understand what is President Trump’s true intention."
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans that could total trillions of dollars.
The AP reports that U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.
What you can do:
Dingell says if you or your business or organization has received communication from the government about a pause in funding do not remain silent.
"We’re standing up and I think all of us have to ask questions who is this money being stolen from, so billionaires can get tax hikes?" she said.
Dingell says call her office or your representative, so a plan of action can be developed.
The Source: FOX 2 talked with Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell and child care center owner Betty Henderson, while using information from previous stories.