During a special meeting of the St. Louis Board of Estimate and Apportionment on Wednesday, officials discussed the impact President Donald Trump鈥檚 executive order to freeze billions in federal spending could have on the city鈥檚 finances.
Trump鈥檚 move to freeze spending has caused confusion and panic across the country, with some ruling against the move, ordering that the administration continue to provide some funding.
According to St. Louis officials, the city receives at least $162 million in federal money, and over 150 city government projects would be impacted if the orders were allowed to stand.
鈥淭his has turned into a legal battle with the Trump administration fighting hard to keep that freeze,鈥� Mayor Tishaura Jones said during the virtual meeting. 鈥淔ederal funds support law enforcement, affordable housing, seniors, flood response and so many other things.
鈥淭he decisions made by Trump and his inner circle of billionaires and cronies will have a real effect on the residents of the city of St. Louis.鈥�
Casey Millburg, Jones鈥� policy director, said retiree benefits could be cut by $4,000 after one year, and median wage retirees could lose up to $100,000 over 10 years if all the orders are upheld.
In addition, over 200,000 Medicaid enrollees across Missouri could lose their coverage, and 928,000 women could lose access to free preventative emergency contraception, Millburg said.
In addition, funding for holding noncompliant property owners accountable could be negatively impacted, and some safety improvements to the St. Louis City Justice Center could be halted.
Millburg said there are also anticipated federal grant awards that city agencies have not yet drawn down, and several departments provided updates on their status.
She said St. Louis Lambert International Airport has about $37.5 million in federal grants pending. The Community Development Agency is awaiting $69.1 million. The Department of Health is waiting on about $880,000. The Department of Public Safety has $432,000 pending, and the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment is awaiting $200,000.
Millburg said it appears the safest money is funding for which the city has received a written agreement and that has already come into city coffers.
The board discussed the need for proactive measures, including monitoring federal developments and engaging with federal and state authorities to mitigate the effects.
Millburg noted that Trump distanced himself from during his campaign but said it is clear his administration has embraced the plan from the Heritage Foundation, which aims to remove checks on executive power.
鈥淭here's federal actions that are anticipated in the coming days, weeks and months that are likely to provide both clarity, as well as some potential negative impacts or other impacts that all local governments will have to be prepared to pivot to.鈥�
Jones called on community members to be vigilant in navigating these challenges.
鈥淓very day, we're encouraging you to call your senators and your representatives at the federal level and ask that they fight back against these reckless executive orders and Project 2025, which promises to dismantle federal funding that supports law enforcement, affordable housing, seniors, our unhoused flood response and so much more,鈥� Jones said.
This story has been updated to clarify that Medicaid enrollees across Missouri could lose coverage as a result of the executive orders, not just those in St. Louis.
