Booker, Local Electeds, First Responders, NJ Non-Profits Warn of Severe Disruptions to Vital Community Services Following Trump OMB Guidance

East Orange, NJ – This morning, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was joined by Congresswoman  LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones, members of law enforcement, firefighters, local elected officials, and New Jersey non-profit service providers at an East Orange Fire Department (EOFD) firehouse to highlight the immediate and tangible negative effects the Trump-Vance administration’s proposed federal funding freeze could have on communities across the Garden State.

“President Trump has made clear that he intends our communities to bear the burden of his administration’s freeze of federal funds. What this means is New Jerseyans’ vital service providers––local government administrations and nonprofits alike––are thrown into a mess of uncertainty. Police departments can’t access funds to buy body armor for officers. Fire departments are forced to continue using antiquated equipment. Nonprofits, like those that serve domestic violence survivors, children, and older adults, can’t afford to continue operating at full capacity, jeopardizing meal delivery for seniors, after school programming for kids, and essential safe haven services for those in domestic violence situations. It’s been less than two weeks, but the damage Trump has caused and threatens to continue causing has already hampered the work of those that ensure our safety and wellbeing. What’s worse is that he doesn’t care. Fortunately, I have partners in my fight to protect New Jerseyans, and we won’t stop working until we are heard and our communities are safe,” said Booker.

Originally requiring all executive departments and agencies “to identify and review all Federal financial assistance,” the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum issued on January 27  threatens to pause trillions of dollars of grant, loan, and other congressionally appropriated funding  to states, counties, municipalities, and critical service providers across the country, including funding for veterans’ assistance groups, police, firefighters, and local first responders, early childhood education centers, older adult service providers, organizations that serve survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and transportation projects like roads, bridges, and public transit. .

Condemning these freezes in federal funding, lawmakers, members of law enforcement, firefighters, and New Jersey non-profit service providers stated: 

“Last week, Trump attempted to freeze all federal funding and decimate the services that keep our community running. I talked to people in our community who use these funds for good and they told me domestic violence shelters would cease operations, aid organizations would close their doors, and community resources would dry up if this freeze went into effect. But we fought back and he stood down. Our community stands together and we won’t sit back as the people of NJ-10 and our nation face the worst of Trump’s decisions. I will do whatever it takes to the American people, here and across the country,” said United States Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10).

“Essex County receives tens of millions of dollars each year from the Federal government to modernize our infrastructure and provide vital social services to assist our most vulnerable residents. Not being able to access funds previously awarded will create significant financial pressure on our budget and severely limit our ability to enhance our residents’ quality of life. We appreciate the work of Senator Booker to restore the funds so we can continue effectively serving the residents of Essex County,” said Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive.

“The decision to abruptly end federal aid is both irresponsible and dangerous. Without these critical resources, our ability to respond effectively to emergencies, investment in technology and address the root causes of crime are severely hindered. We need to ensure that every neighborhood remains secure and every officer has the resources to do their job effectively,” said Amir Jones, Essex County Sheriff.

“A freeze to the release of federal funds will impact all victims and survivors of domestic violence. Annually, domestic violence programs serve more than 50,000 survivors a year. The vast majority of our 33 domestic violence providers in NJ rely on federal funding to ensure that every county has a domestic violence shelter, legal advocacy, counseling and other critical services that survivors need. A freeze in funding will increase barriers for survivors seeking safety, and will cause many to stay in abusive situations, increasing the danger and harm they will experience. The federal government must act accordingly, and not hastily, to ensure victims and survivors have the services they need in their community when they need them,” said Adrienne Gantz and Nicole Morella, Co-Executive Directors New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

“New Jersey’s nonprofit organizations provide countless programs and essential services that save and improve lives, make our communities and economies stronger for everyone, and make our towns and cities better places to live, work, visit, and raise a family. They are vital to the economy as employers and as patrons of local businesses statewide.  For many decades, the government has recognized that nonprofits are trusted, trustworthy, effective partners in serving our residents. The White House’s attempted federal funding freeze, combined with the many vague and sweeping executive orders, have sparked fear and confusion across the nonprofit community, while putting organizations and the people they serve in jeopardy. If not reversed, these orders will cause incalculable and widespread human and economic devastation in New Jersey and throughout the nation,” said Linda Czipo, President & CEO of the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits

“These proposed funding freezes are the consequences of an administration that makes decisions without thinking them through. The fire service relies on these dollars and our NJ congressional delegation has worked with our Union for decades to be sure we secure them. The first few weeks of the Trump administration has us worried that respect for Labor and Unions will be on the back burner for the next four years,” said Ed Donnelly, President New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association 

Speakers at this morning’s press conference included:

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)

U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10)

County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County

Ed Donnelly, President, New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association

Sheriff Amir Jones, Essex County

Mayor Ted Green, City of East Orange

Nicole Morella, Executive Director, NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Additional programs and initiatives potentially impacted by OMB’s memorandum include but are not limited to:

Head Start

Click here for a state-by-state table of FY 2024 funding for Head Start, which funds comprehensive early childhood education, or here for state-by-state fact sheets that use the same funding data.

VAWA Grants

Click here for state level totals of FY 2024 grant funding from the Office of Violence Against Women.

Community Health Center

Click here for a 2023 table of state-by-state Section 330 grant funding for community health centers, which provide affordable care for millions of Americans.

IDEA and Other Department of Education Grant Programs

Click here for a state-by-state table of IDEA Grants (which help children with disabilities) from FY 2023, and data on other grant programs through the Department of Education that could be impacted by the freeze.

COPS Grants

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program is a Department of Justice grant program for law enforcement. More info here, and many of the links include state-by-state fact sheets. This link here includes FY 2024 grant amounts for the COPS Hiring Program (CHP).

State Opioid Response Grants

Click here for total state awards from FY 2024 for the State Opioid Response Grants program, which funds addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

SBA Loans to Small Business

Click here for a dashboard of approved SBA loans by state for recent fiscal years including FY 2024. State totals for both the 7(a) program and 504 program are available. Copying values from the dashboard does not always work, but the Download Data option is a good other way to access the numbers.