Proposal Would Let Trump Administration Block Grants Over Agenda Conflicts

A reported proposal would give the Trump administration wider power to block grants that conflict with its agenda or support “anti-American” values.

A new proposal would allow the Trump administration to block federal grants if they do not satisfy President Trump’s agenda or if they support what the proposal calls “anti-American” values, according to a New York Times summary of the plan.

The proposal could carry significant consequences for organizations, institutions and local governments that rely on federal grant money, depending on how broadly the administration defines conflicts with its priorities. The available summary does not identify which grant programs would be affected or how the standard would be applied.

The central issue is control over federal spending after Congress has authorized money for public purposes. Grant conditions are common in federal programs, but a broad political or ideological test for funding eligibility would likely draw close scrutiny from affected recipients and opponents of the administration.

The proposal’s reported language also raises questions about who would determine whether a grant supports “anti-American” values and what process, if any, recipients would have to challenge a denial.

Further details on the proposal’s scope, legal basis and implementation timeline will be critical to understanding how much power it would give the administration over federal grants.