The Trump administration lost little time embarking on its stated mission of reducing the size of the federal government, and one of its first moves, a week after Donald Trump was inaugurated, had an immediate impact locally.
On Jan. 27, the administration announced that the next day federal grants and loans would be frozen. According to a memo from the Office of Management and Budget, “This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities.”
The order was quickly blocked by the courts and then suspended by the administration, but the disruption to the system did not immediately end, according to one local housing agency official.
Mackenzie Poparvak, director of communications and outreach for the South Suburban Housing Center in Homewood, said the effect of the Jan. 28 freeze was immediate and the situation remains uncertain. She was speaking at a news conference held Feb. 20 in Hazel Crest village hall by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who represents Homewood and Flossmoor.
“They said it was going to happen at five o’clock that day (Jan. 28), we were doing our regularly scheduled deliverable turn in for our education outreach grants for fair housing,” Poparvak said. “And we were unable to obtain our funds or log into the system at all. We were completely locked out.”
She said access eventually was restored, but some programs remain in limbo.
“Our programs and services for homeowners that are facing mortgage distress and foreclosure or looking to enter ownership and report any housing discrimination are kind of hanging in the balance as we wait to see what’s gonna happen,” she said. “We’re still going to work towards our mission and offer the programs and services that we have, however, we’re kind of waiting to see how much it’s going to impact the future.”
Part of the uncertainty comes from grant applications the agency normally would have gotten notification about, but housing center officials have not heard whether the grants have been awarded.
SSHC is not alone in facing continued disruption of its funding. On Feb. 25, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic members of the state’s Congressional delegation, including Kelly, sent a letter to Russell Vought, director of the federal Office of Management and Budget, demanding to know why $1.88 billion worth of federal funding was not flowing to Illinois recipients.
“Despite OMB’s recission of the (Jan. 27) memo, we have continued to receive reports from agencies and organizations detailing their inability to access funds,” the letter stated. “This uncertainty over receiving future, assured funds, along with little clarity provided by the administration, has forced many to pause operations, cancel projects or cut staff.”
Kelly convened the news conference to issue a challenge to the Trump administration’s approach to increasing government efficiency.
She objected to the dramatic reductions in staff at federal agencies being made by Elon Musk, considered the richest individual in the world, who was deputized by Trump to slash staff and programs while his companies collect $8 million per day in federal contracts.
“It is not lost on me that while Trump fires qualified, dedicated, good workers, he blames diversity, equity, and inclusion for every tragedy that happens on his watch,” she said. Immediately after a collision Jan. 29 between a passenger aircraft and military helicopter, Trump claimed without citing evidence that DEI hiring practices contributed to the crash. “He blames DEI not because it’s responsible, but because it’s an easy target, because fear and division are his most effective tools.”
Kelly said she believes the staff and program cuts are designed to enable the Republican-controlled Congress to approve $4 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade that are expected to disproportionately benefit the richest Americans.
She noted that Republicans currently control all three branches of the federal government. She repurposed a slogan Trump “Stop the steal” that his followers used to claim the results of the 2020 presidential election were rigged.
“With all this power, they decide to give more money to the wealthy,” she said. “They decide to step on the American people who are already trying to make ends meet. House Democrats are doing everything we can to stop the steal.”
She introduced speakers whose goal was to shine a light on the people she represents in the 2nd District who stand to be harmed by the reduction or elimination of federal programs.
Speakers included Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry; John Peller, president and CEO of AIDS Foundation of Chicago; Veronica Clarke, president and CEO of TCA Health; Michael Boyd, president and CEO of Kankakee Community College; Debra Shore, former EPA Region 5 administrator; and Becky Gremley, a district constituent and caregiver for her autistic son.
Alsberry focused on Trump administration actions that he believes could have a negative impact on Hazel Crest and other south suburban communities, especially the attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and the imposition of tariffs on the country’s key trading partners.
Alsberry has been an advocate for providing relief from the property tax burdens in the South Suburbs. He said tariffs could raise prices on materials for housing and infrastructure, hurting home owners and municipalities that are already struggling.
“As a mayor, I recognize the necessity of a efficient government that responsibly manages tax resources,” he said. “However, I’m deeply troubled by the indifference and lack of concern for ordinary Americans being shown by Trump and his administration.”
Kelly and the news conference speakers are not the only ones alarmed by the administration’s wrecking-ball approach to eliminating waste in government. On Feb. 18, Kelly hosted a call-in town hall forum, and about 11,000 people joined the call. That’s a record, she said.
One caller asked what recourse Congress would have if the Trump administration simply ignores court rulings.
“It seems that a lot of the things that this administration is doing are illegal and our line of defense are the courts,” he said. “If the administration simply refuses to abide by court decisions, the courts can adjudicate, but they can’t enforce the law. That’s the executive branch.”
Kelly deferred to Nikki McKinney, senior advisor for policy and public affairs for Democracy Forward, and Colorado 2nd District Congressman Joe Neguse, to field that question.
Neguse said the courts have their own enforcement tools, including writs of court, sanctions and contempt citations.
“Federal courts, as our article three (of the Constitution) branch of government, are not powerless to enforce court orders,” he said. “That happens often. The situation you’ve described would be an unprecedented circumstance and one that would obviously require and warrant a decisive response from the Congress.”
McKinney said there are organizations nationwide considering how to respond if the administration does not cooperate with court rulings. She also noted that if just a small handful of “common sense” Republicans would aid Democrats, Congress would have more power to counter Trump.
“So hope is not lost, and there are people who are working and thinking about this,” she said. “But do not discount the power of you and your voice … to impose your will on the White House as well. This is a democracy. This is a full contact sport that requires all of us.”
