Trump Administration Freezes $26 Billion in Funds for Democratic States Amid Shutdown
Washington:The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has frozen **$26 billion in federal funds** allocated for Democratic-majority states, intensifying the political standoff during the ongoing government shutdown.
The frozen funds include **$18 billion for New York’s infrastructure projects** and **$8 billion for green energy initiatives** across 16 Democratic-led states, including California and Illinois.
The Trump administration defended the move, calling these allocations “non-essential expenditures” during the shutdown. However, Democrats slammed the decision as **“political retaliation,”** accusing Trump of undermining critical urban development and environmental programs.
Political analysts warn that the freeze could delay major **public transportation projects in New York** and derail **climate and clean energy goals**, while also threatening thousands of jobs tied to these initiatives.
The shutdown, caused by Congress’s failure to pass a spending bill, has already forced **750,000 federal employees into furloughs** and closed multiple agencies, including **NASA and the Library of Congress**.
