Federal funding freeze sparks outrage from Illinois leaders

What they're saying: "The U.S. Constitution does not grant the President this unilateral authority," Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement Monday, referring to the freeze.

• "In Illinois, we will stand against unlawful actions that would harm millions of working families, children, and seniors."

The big picture: The governor's office and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office are still assessing what the exact impact could be on budgets and services.

• City officials said Chicago received $4 billion in grants last year, and a portion of that number was from the federal government. The city counts on federal dollars for big projects like the expansion of the Red Line, disaster relief and low-income housing assistance, just to name a few areas.
• State agencies complained they were shut out of accessing federal funding sites and disbursement systems, including Medicaid, according to the governor's spokesperson.

Yes, but: President Trump's order said the freeze would not affect Social Security or Medicare, or any individual payouts.

Zoom out: Pritzker joins a growing chorus of Democrats and nonprofits looking to the courts to stop this order.

Zoom in: Other Illinois lawmakers condemned Trump's move, including U.S. House Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-3rd). "People who care about Americans' health, well-being, and safety don't freeze funding for critical services and research," she said in a statement.

What's next: The state and the city say they are reviewing the potential impacts, while the state has yet to say if it will take legal action.

Editor's note: This is a developing story.