Statement from Senator Shelley B. Mayer On President Trump’s “Pause” of Federal Funds

“I’m deeply disturbed by President Trump’s unauthorized ‘pause’ of appropriated federal funds. It is already causing distress, confusion, and havoc in New York State, as payments that flow through to New York institutions are impacted. So far we have heard that online systems through which Medicaid payments are received by New York State were blocked and that non-profits reimbursed through federal funds are at great risk of non-payment for services they provide. These include hospitals, Head Start programs, veterans programs and more – services New Yorkers depend on, and our Congressmembers and Senators fought for and were enacted into law.

“Credit to New York Attorney General Tish James and other state Attorneys General, who promptly filed suit challenging this order. It appears a federal judge briefly delayed the President’s order. We cannot stay silent in the face of such action by the President; I appeal to my Republican Federal colleagues to use every tool at their disposal to stop this effort.

“It’s unacceptable and cannot stand.”