Governor Shapiro Secures Unfreeze of $2 Billion Federal Aid

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced on Monday that his administration has successfully regained access to more than $2 billion in federal aid that was previously frozen by the Trump administration. This funding will support various state initiatives including environmental cleanup and infrastructure improvements.

During a news conference, Shapiro expressed relief that funds identified as either frozen or pending review are now accessible to state agencies. He labeled the prior withholding of aid as illegal and unconstitutional, calling it a violation of Pennsylvanians’ rights to funding for federally mandated programs.

Shapiro took action on Feb. 13 by filing a lawsuit after federal courts rejected the Trump administration’s pause on federal funding. The governor emphasized that his administration pressed for the release of these funds during recent discussions with senior officials while in Washington, D.C., over the weekend.

“It is my job to protect Pennsylvania’s interests, and I will use every tool at my disposal, from legal action to direct engagement, to ensure that the funds Pennsylvanians pay in federal taxes return to our Commonwealth,” Shapiro said.

The Unfreezing of funds will facilitate vital projects, including plugging abandoned wells to prevent environmental hazards and support for energy-efficient renovations for up to 28,000 low-income residents. Shapiro noted that proper funding could prevent sinkholes and enhance safety in areas affected by abandoned mines.

“Pennsylvania is home to more abandoned mines than any other state, and there are still 140,000 acres that need to be addressed. We can prevent tragedies like the one in Westmoreland County last December by acting now,” he stated.

Five federal agencies were named as defendants in Shapiro’s lawsuit, including the Office of Management and Budget and the Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia declined to comment on the matter.

In court proceedings in Rhode Island, Trump administration lawyers have defended the freeze as a legitimate measure to assess federal fund usage. They requested that a judge dismiss a preliminary injunction from nearly two dozen Democratic states challenging the fund’s suspension.

Although the Department of Energy remarked on compliance with court orders, they did not clarify whether the stalled funding had been released, leading to continued uncertainty for Pennsylvania’s agencies relying on these grants.

Shapiro has assured that his administration will remain vigilant in pursuing all necessary avenues to secure federal funding vital for the health and safety of Pennsylvania residents.