In response to the Trump Administration seeking to freeze federal loans, grants, and assistance, MassBudget President Viviana Abreu-Hernández, PhD has issued the following statement:
The directive to temporarily halt payment for federally funded programs is harmful and especially devastating for vulnerable populations. Although the freeze is stated to be temporary, it could lead to permanent cuts for critical services and further deepen inequities across our state and country.
In the coming days and weeks, we will better understand the impact of the proposed freeze on Massachusetts residents. It is imperative that any loss of federal funding be addressed by the state in order to continue support for critical programs at risk.
The state will likely bear some of the responsibility of filling in the gaps left behind. The Commonwealth can close loopholes for billionaire global corporations to recover revenue to meet the needs of Massachusetts families in crisis. Lawmakers may also need to consider withdrawing money from our rainy day fund to ensure that critical programs are able to continue operating for Massachusetts families.
MassBudget has long been an advocate for budgets that are rooted in economic and racial justice. As an organization, we remain steadfast in our mission to advocate for those who are most impacted by systemic challenges. It is more important than ever that the Commonwealth stays true to our shared values and uses our resources to uplift populations historically left out of – and most impacted by – policy decisions.
