Trump administration mulls slashing funds to 'anarchist jurisdictions'
US President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly considering cutting federal funds to protest-hit cities it calls “anarchist jurisdictions,” run by Democrats.
“The Department of Health and Human Services has identified federal grants covering those services, which are among the nearly 200 health programs that could be in line for cuts as part of a sweeping government-wide directive the administration is advancing,” Politico reported.
Trump has been escalating his political battle against liberal cities ahead of the November 3 presidential race, when he hopes to get reelected for a second term by defeating former Vice President Joe Biden
"My administration will do everything in its power to prevent weak mayors and lawless cities from taking federal dollars while they let anarchists harm people, burn buildings, and ruin lives and businesses,” Trump tweeted on September 2, shortly after releasing a defunding memo.
New York City, Portland, Oregon, Washington, DC, and Seattle could, therefore, lose millions of dollars for Covid-19 and other health programs.
According to Laura Feyer, a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Republican nominee’s latest measures is “nothing more than political retribution.”
“The bottom line is there's no extra money lying around, and this is not a time to be playing politics with people’s health,” said Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition.
Public health officials were, meanwhile, urging Congress to provide $8.4 billion in additional funding for development of a vaccine to the coronavirus.
“It's one thing to write a strong plan. It's quite another to implement the plan. And right now the plans ... are just wish lists. Without additional resources and funding, we won't be able to successfully implement them,” said Claire Hannan, executive director of the National Association of Immunization Managers.
Source: Press Tv
