Organizations that receive federal funding took a proverbial sigh of relief Wednesday as the Trump administration rescinded its massive funding freeze.
On Monday, emergency meetings across San Antonio and the nation were called as word spread about the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans. Several online accounting portals that agencies and nonprofits use to collect federal funding were shut down and technical assistance programs were halted.
The freeze’s recall “signals a critical shift that nonprofits must closely monitor,” Scott McAninch, president and CEO of the local Nonprofit Council said in a statement Wednesday. “As these changes unfold, it’s vital for nonprofit organizations to stay vigilant and informed, as adjustments to federal grant policies can directly impact funding and the sustainability of programs that serve our local communities in South Texas.”
“A [funding] pause, no matter how many days or weeks, will have a severe impact on the operations of nonprofits,” he said. “It’s hurting the people who are being served in our community. That’s the bottom line.”
“These funds were approved by Congress and are our tax dollars that San Antonio residents sent to Washington,” he wrote. “We will be closely monitoring the situation and will keep the public updated on impacts to the city.”