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Dive Brief:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Aug. 7 executive order, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, is the latest of several Trump administration actions to block federal money from going to recipients or funding work that do not align with the Trump administration\u2019s priorities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The order takes aim at what the administration describes as \u201cdiversity, equity, and inclusion and other far-left initiatives.\u201d It directs agencies to select discretionary grant applications that advance the Trump administration\u2019s policy priorities and avoid projects that support race or gender, undocumented immigration and the existence of transgender people.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It also encourages providing grant funds to a broad range of recipients \u201crather than to a select group of repeat players.\u201d Grant recipients will need to submit \u201cwritten explanations or support, with specificity\u201d before drawing down funds for each award.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The National Association of Counties, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>in an Aug. 19 post<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, stated that counties depend on federal grant funds to support a range of priorities including social services, health programs, public safety, disaster response and infrastructure investments.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cChanges to federal grant policy, especially ones that apply retroactively, may create unintended administrative or financial consequences when implementing these programs,\u201d the organization stated.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A spokesperson for the National League of Cities said in an email that it is reviewing the full impact of the executive order on cities. The organization said it agrees the grantmaking process could be improved, but the executive order \u201cadds to the bureaucratic process with more political reviews and another update to the Uniform Guidance which underpins all grants.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The spokesperson added that the executive order falsely asserts that grants already in process \u201ccan be partially or fully terminated without a substantial cause.\u201d That move, the NLC stated, is \u201ccounter to Congress\u2019 Constitutional power of the purse.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The NLC is trying to help cities overcome complex grant processes by training small and large communities to apply for and manage federal grants, the organization stated.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n County leaders, meanwhile, are urging Congress and the administration to not cancel or freeze previously awarded funds and \u201csupport the stability and continued funding of critical projects and programs that have been properly approved, allocated and distributed,\u201d NACO wrote.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Dive Insight:<\/h3>\n