Environmental advocates warned that if it is effective, the order could have immediate and serious consequences for Americans.
“From the White House, this is a careless stroke of a pen,” said in a statement by Manish Bapna, President of Natural Resources Defense Council. “On the ground, it is a cold house in the winter dead. This is a child who is hungry in school. This is a family that cannot pay rent. This is a high utility cost for low -income homes in every state. ,
The list of programs includes dozens of the Homeland Security Department, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Samantha Montano, assistant professor at Emergency Management at Massachusetts Meritime Academy, said that aid can stop the programs of the agency effectively that the state and local governments help in preparing and recovering from disasters.
“I think it is appropriate to say that stopping all federal grants will have a terrible effect on the US emergency management system,” he said. “This will make us prepare less for any future disasters and the disaster will make it even more difficult for those who are in the midst of an attempt to rebuild their lives to do so.”
Montano said that these offices are not purely focused on weather -related disasters.
“We are also talking about port security, terrorism, cyber security,” he said. “This is complete national security. When you take away these grants, it is put at risk.”
Across the country, state agencies and non-profit organizations have already been excluded from a federal system to reach the grant money, said Maria Lopez-Nunez, an environmental justice advisory firm, a coffer of the agency. He listed a wide range of programs that were potentially affected, to help rural communities get access to sewer and clean water to laying water pipes from a grant in Northern Carolina.
For many small non -profit organizations, delay in reaching the federal grant funds could be unable to make them parole, said, or completed his programs.
Lopez-Nunez said, “They are funding key, necessary grant funds, which many states need significant services,” Lopez-Nunez said, who was a member of the White House Environment Justice Advisory Advisory Council during the Biden administration. .
In Northern Carolina, where the community is still recovering from Hurricane Helen, a spokesman of the state's environmental quality, or Deq, said the agency “is reviewing the memo and its possible effects”, “federal money for one Provide. ” A significant part of billions of dollars for Northern Carolina communities along with Deq's operating budget. ,
Agencies 'instructions list more than 400 programs under the US Department of Agriculture, from emergency food aid to support for farmers' markets and water saving initiatives. Also the listed department is one of the largest, most popular and effective initiatives, protection reserved programs.
Many legal experts said they were suspecting the validity of suspended money. While some have called the president Can stop temporarily In some circumstances, others have stated that the works directed by the memo have clearly violated constitutional boundaries.
“Law is uneven: Congress controls federal expenses, and no executive action can bypass this authority,” Jillian Blancard, Director of Environment Justice for Lawyers for Climate Change, Director of Environment Justice, in a statement . “This order not only violates the constitution, but also threatens important programs and communities relying on this funding, which will affect hundreds of jobs across the country.”
This order was already suspending some science, environment and energy programs. On Monday, NPR reported The National Science Foundation canceled its grant review panels set for this week. Several news organizations have reported that the Department of Energy has suspended billions of dollars in loans, grants and other expenses.
Georgina Gustin and Lisa Sorag contributed to the article inside climate news reporters.