Illinois Governor and Democratic Congress Members Pushing for $2 Billion Federal Funding Blocked by Trump Administration

CHICAGO (WLS) — Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic members of Illinois’ Congressional Delegation are requesting clarification from the federal government on Wednesday.

It centers on nearly $2 billion in federal payments to Illinois that were temporarily halted by President Donald Trump’s administration.

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Pritzker, who has been openly critical of Trump on various issues, is now questioning the administration regarding the recently passed House budget and federal funds intended for Illinois that are currently delayed.

On Wednesday morning, Pritzker highlighted an expansion of his healthcare debt relief program but criticized the Trump administration for suspending federal funds designated for Illinois last month.

For some reason, they have not been made available after that order was rescinded.

“Now, when you call the federal government agencies, they either don’t want to talk to you, or they are, you know, they say, you know, we don’t know what’s going to happen, whether you’re going to get paid. We don’t know when,” Pritzker said.

So, Pritzker and the entire Democratic Congressional Delegation have written the director of the Office of Management and Budget, demanding an accounting of funding that’s been paused or interrupted, noting, “In total, this constitutes $1.88 billion in impacted federal funds across 14 state agencies, boards and commissions in Illinois.”

“We, of course, are in every circumstance looking at what is our redress? Can we go to court? And if not, are we, you know, is there some other way that we can get that, that funding source turned back on?” Pritzker said.

Pritzker was asked if he thought the money was being withheld in response to his frequent criticism of the president.

“I don’t, I actually think that it’s both they’re incompetent. That’s one of the issues. They literally have fired the competent people because they want people that are solely loyal to Donald Trump,” Pritzker said.

In his letter, Pritzker asked for an accounting of the missing funds by March 4. It’s money he says is owed to Illinois taxpayers.

The Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to a request for comment.