NJ Attorney General planned to block Trump’s federal grant freeze: NPR

A federal court has temporarily stopped the instructions of the Trump administration to prevent federal grants and payment for programs.

A memorandum released from the management and budget office on Monday asked the federal agencies to temporarily stop the funds, so that those agencies can be allowed to determine whether their programs follow the policies of President Trump. Are or not. Read in Memo: “Marxist Equity, Transgenderism and Green New Deal Using Federal Resources to pursue social engineering policies is a waste of the dollar that does not improve the day-to-day life of those people we do . “

The move created widespread confusion between agencies, states and MPs. the White House Demand to clarify on Tuesday This “break does not apply the whole-board” and that “any program that provides direct benefits to Americans”-such as social security, medicine and food stamps-“is clearly excluded.”

The federal court to raise Federal Funding Pose came in response to a legal challenge from a group of non -profit organizations.

A coalition by the Democratic State Attorney General also announced legal action against OMB on Tuesday – among them New Jersey Attorney General Mathew Placin. He spoke with Mary Lewis Kelly of NPR all things Considered,

This interview is lightly edited for length and clarity.

Interview highlighted

Mary Lewis Kelly: So today it is a matter of all kinds of confusion what is really here. What is your understanding of what and what will it affect?

Matthew Platkin: Well, I think confusion is from design because the President has a habit of issuing orders and making him regularly revising and creating anarchy and this is what the administration did last night when he potentially trillion dollars The dollar funding was implicated, as it can happen in any way because it can happen in any way. Vok, his visual touch on Dei, you know Buzzwords that he has kept out through executive orders. And we have to remember what he does. It potentially funds senior healthcare, IT funds children’s education, funds police in states like IT New Jersey.

Kelly: So and so talk about some programs that you are thinking that may be affected.

Platcin: Well, some people who were completely affected today, whether they are Medicade, Headstart, who offers childhood educational services for millions of children across the country. I mentioned funds for law enforcement. Literally, this order will blame the police in states across the country. It is potentially cutting funding for drugs, drug trafficking, prosecution and investigation. So the effect is extreme.

Kelly: Now, I want to inject, as if we really try to add facts here, OMB excluded the language to clarify the initial order. From today, the new language says, and I am quoting, compulsory programs like Medicid and Snap – so food aid will continue without stopping. It also says that the amount will not be stopped by small businesses, farmers, pail grants, headstarts and so on. Especially in New Jersey, have you seen any direct impact so far? Or it’s so much that in the game so much so that you are watching and waiting?

Platcin: Okay, okay. The illusion I was referring to is directly related to the thing you just said, Mary Lewis, because even in New Jersey and in the states across the country, they could not reach the Medicade System. Now, the administration has now said that they are not going to include the Medicade, but by the last night, they were and they can change it any hour. So what we have done went to court and said that the administration, the President is powerful, but he is not a king. He with a stroke of a pen overred, with an authorized expenses in the form of Congress, which supports important services for millions and millions of Americans, red states and millions of Americans.

Kelly: Another piece of information. The way we try to open all this. The press secretary of the White House tweeted on Eastern at 2:57 pm today: “The White House is aware of the Medicade website portal outage. We have confirmed that no payment has been affected.” They hope that the portal will soon return online. Given the illusion that we are talking about, are you convinced that you and your fellow state Attorney General have understood the order well to bring the suit?

Platcin: Of course, because we are taking it at an inscribed price. And then, one of our claims in our trial is that he did not even attempt to follow the appropriate process to do something like this. And the reason for this we have government procedures, do not have some arran functions. This is fine, so you do not have confusion among the public about important services. So senior people are not surprised, am I able to stay in my aid stay and get my health care? Or is I being thrown out on the road and at bitter cold temperatures so that parents do not have to worry about whether they can take their children to school. So people do not have to worry about whether drug traffic can run their roads without law enforcement appearance. So we have a process.

Kelly: Another point to put you. I mentioned the press secretary of the new White House. He is a curly levit. In his briefing this afternoon, he said that the President is a good steps of the taxpayer dollar, at the point that the federal government probably should not fund the programs that are potentially out of the line with the President’s agenda. Why do you disagree?

Platcin: Well, there is a budget process for the President that determines that it is a reasonable level of spending with the Congress. But we are talking about the funds that the Congress has already approved, that a President has already authorized, and now millions of people are dependent on important services. The President, and his administration did not refer to a single law or legal right, stating that he could try to do it last night, which is why he spent the whole day to run it back. And I feel for the press secretaries who have to try to convince millions of Americans why their health care, why their security is suddenly threatened during their safety, because the President has a political There is vengeance and thinks that all this is a game.

Kelly: To withdraw a step, I would note that you were at NPR less than a week on NPR. You were on our sister program, morning edition, and in that case, you were talking about the state’s response to an executive action on birthright citizenhood. How are you going to give priority that how will you keep challenging the policies of Trump administration in court? Are you employee to file a new case every week?

Platcin: Or working very hard? But this is very simple. We are basically looking at two things, the President has valid and constitutional and consistent in accordance with the laws of this nation. And does it hurt the residents of our state. If what he is doing is valid, even if I do not like it, it is his privilege. He is a duly elected President. But when he violates the law, when he enhances the Constitution, and when he hurts millions of people in states like my state and across the country, I maintain the constitution and protect my inhabitants Took oath of And when this happens, it is my responsibility for them to stand.

Kelly: the last question. We have about one minute left. Trump campaigned, as you know, as a disruptive of the status quo in the federal government. He campaigned on the promise that he would shake things. He won 77 million votes to do so for the argument that it represents democracy in action. You say what I say.

Platcin: I say that we have a body of a constitution and laws, and we are a country which is ruled by the rule of law. And this means that the President has to follow those laws and those constitutional norms. He does not decide that he does not want to follow them only because even like him is allowed to put his agenda, but he will have to be right for the laws of this nation.

This article was edited by Patrick Jarenwatnan.