Many organizations issued statements when the grant freeze first was announced.
Native Americans, who are members of 38 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, would be especially hurt by the edict.
Native American Rights Fund, Executive Director John Echohawk stated: Native Americans would also be impacted by a freeze on federal funding.
There are 38 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma.
Native American Rights Fund Executive Director John Echohawk issued the following statement prior to Trump’s order being rescinded: We at the Native American Rights Fund, like many of you, are shocked at the withholding of federal funding.
Tribal Nations, more so than almost any other community, will be negatively impacted by this decision. Tribal Nations rely on federal funding to address essential needs, including public safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and the basic needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
The United States has a unique government-togovernment obligation to Tribal Nations. Because of this unique relationship, Tribal Nations and Native people are especially and disproportionately affected by any federal actions like today’s funding freeze.
The United States must fulfill its trust obligation to protect Tribal treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources. Withholding federal funding without consultation is a step in the wrong direction.
Ultimately, the executive branch is tasked with distributing taxpayer funds in a timely and efficient way based on the priorities identified by legislators. The executive branch does not have the power to overrule the will of the people and refuse funding to some because they don’t like the language that they use.
The money that is being withheld is taxpayer dollars. Through Congress, we, the people, have made decisions about how we want our money spent. To withhold our money from us without reason or warning is illegal and immoral.
We recognize the immense impact that this action has for our people. The Native American Rights Fund is investigating how this action might specifically affect Tribal Nations and if legal action is needed to protect the rights of Tribal Nations and their citizens.
More Statements
• Oklahoma Education Association, Monica Nguyen There would be a massive impact on special education and nutrition programs. It scares us. We are grateful for the reversal, for right now. There would be lawsuits, of course. There are so many grants that are tied to laws. Everyone is quite concerned, and we are grateful the concerns are being heard.
– Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, Carrie Blumert, MPH, CEO stated on Jan. 28: As of 4 pm today, a US District Judge has temporarily blocked the White House Administration’s freeze on federal funding. We are extremely grateful for this temporary block but are paying close attention to how this funding freeze could affect our services at Mental Health Association Oklahoma, if it is to take effect at a later date.
The proposed freeze on federal funding was set to go into effect today at 5 p.m., negatively impacting millions of providers and residents across the nation. We recognize the gravity of this action and the potential challenges it may bring to the Oklahomans who rely on these programs for their well-being and survival. This freeze comes at a time when resources for our most vulnerable neighbors are already stretched thin.
Mental Health Association Oklahoma is actively in communication with federal and state leaders to fully understand how this freeze could affect the programs and services that tens of thousands of you, your loved ones and your fellow community members depend on. We are working closely with officials to determine the protocol and the necessary steps to ensure we continue providing critical support.
Our mission to promote mental health, prevent suicide, end homelessness and transform the justice system remains unwavering. The Oklahomans we serve are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to minimizing any disruption to the vital services we provide.
If you need mental health or housing resources, please call our Mental Health Assistance Center at 405.943.3700 or 918.585.1213 or visit our website.
• Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, Joe Dorman, Executive Director Nonprofit organizations are some of the recipients of those (federal) funds. Organizations in Oklahoma discussed what could happen if this effort moves forward in the future.
To possibly do away with some of these grants or restrict them, it’s certainly going to make it difficult for some of these organizations to survive.
The federal judge blocked the funding freeze just hours before it was set to go into effect at 5 p.m.
What could happen to organizations like this if that block is lifted.?
If they don’t have a reserve account and resources built in for 30, 60 or 90 days, they’re probably going to have to make immediate layoffs.
The block from that judge was a sigh of relief for all programs that rely on federal dollars and grants.
– Oklahoma Arts Council, Joel Gavin Director of Marketing and Communications At this time, we do not have any comments to offer. Regarding our budget, we received a state appropriation of $3,952,325 for the current fiscal year (FY25), and we received a State Partnership Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts of $1,002,100 (FY25). These are our sources of funding.
A significant portion of these funds get invested in communities statewide. Nonprofit organizations, city and county governments, tribal nations, libraries, and schools leverage our funding and any sources of private funding to make arts programming possible.
