01.29.25

Senator Murray’s Remarks at Presser After OMB Rescinds Disastrous Memo: “This Fight is Far From Over”

 

Murray: “Make no mistake—the Trump Administration is still illegally holding up billions of dollars across the federal government through their Day One Executive Orders… Trump has made it clear he is not going to stop.”

 

ICYMI: Senator Murray: “No Senator Who Believes Congress Holds the Power of the Purse Should Vote for Russ Vought” 

 

***VIDEO HERE***

  

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke at a press conference with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) immediately after OMB rescinded its disastrous Monday night memo that illegally froze vast swaths of federal funding appropriated by Congress for communities all over the country.

 

Senator Murray has consistently raised alarm bells over President Trump and his top advisors’ ongoing efforts and plans to illegally block funding Congress has provided from making it out to American families, businesses, and communities. Last week, she grilled President Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, on his loud declarations that President Trump should unilaterally hold up funding—and his refusal to commit to Congress to follow the law. She called out President Trump’s unlawful executive orders holding up funding for infrastructure, national security programs, good-paying clean energy jobs and innovations, and much more—and released a fact sheet detailing how his orders violate the law and the constitution. On Monday night, after OMB issued its sweeping memo freezing trillions of dollars in funding for America, Senator Murray and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro sent a letter to Acting OMB Director Matthew J. Vaeth raising the alarm on President Trump’s unlawful executive orders and the new memoranda. She joined Leader Schumer and Senators Merkley, Klobuchar, Murphy, Kim, and King hours later for a press conference highlighting the mass panic and confusion the memo was already creating for families and communities in every part of the country. This morning, Senator Murray spoke at a press conference with Leader Schumer and Senators Heinrich and Peters hammering how badly Trump’s actions are hurting their states—and working people all across the country.

 

Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

“Never in my time in the Senate have I seen a President cause as much chaos, and panic, and damage in such a short time as President Trump has caused with his brazen and illegal move to freeze federal grants, across the government, and across the country.

“The Trump administration—through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law—caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of just 48 hours.

“But we learned something important: when the American people speak out with one voice—when regular people stand up, it makes a difference. This victory belongs to everyone who raised their voice.

“But make no mistake, the fight is far from over. My phone was ringing off the hook, and it still is.

“You know, everyday Americans actually understand a freeze like this would hurt them, cause serious problems in their lives, and make their lives worse—homeless shelters kicking out kids, clinical trials getting canceled, child care providers laying people off, roads and bridges not getting built, cops not getting hired.

“You know, while people like Elon Musk may not feel the pain of a single one of those cuts or delays, everyday Americans—who work hard every day, expect a fair shake, and expect the government to be there when it counts—they knew this would be catastrophic.

“But again—and please understand this—the fight is not over. Because even though, after the intense outcry from the American people, Trump has now admitted this was a colossal mistake by rescinding the guidance—the threat, the chaos, the panic, can’t just be wiped away.

“We have a lot of work to do right now, to make sure all the funding now actually does get moving again—this is not like turning on a light switch.

“And as we just saw through the chaotic rollout, its complicated stuff. So we will all be watching closely to make sure funds get where they belong ASAP.

“And even afterwards, no one is forgetting what they just tried to do, and what they are still doing.

“Make no mistake: the Trump Administration is still illegally holding up billions of dollars across the federal government through their Day One Executive Orders.

“You don’t have to take my word for it, the White House Press Secretary just said, and I quote: ‘This is not a rescission of the federal funding freeze. […] The President’s [Executive Orders] on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.’

“That means they are still blocking investments Congress passed into law to help our communities.

“They are still blocking things like international aid, clean air and water projects, investments in new clean energy jobs, and a lot of other projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Trump is stopping with his illegal executive orders.

“And, aside from the fact they have not stopped blocking this funding illegally, their blatant attempt this week to illegally freeze trillions more in one fell swoop is, mark my words, a clear sign of what is to come: more lawless cuts, more chaos, more pain for our families.

“Trump has made it clear he is not going to stop. Unless—unless Congress, and the American people, make clear we are not going to stand for it.

“And we have an opportunity now to make that clear, when we vote on Russ Vought’s nomination to be Budget Director. He is the chief architect of Project 2025—which left its digital fingerprints all over the illegal OMB guidance that was issued.

“This is a man who time and again has refused to say he will follow the law—including to me and to many others directly. 

“Every lawmaker who doesn’t want to see funds that they worked to secure for their state—funds they know families are counting on—ripped away must vote ‘no.’ And that’s a start!

“But, as long as the Trump administration is illegally holding back funds and harming families, this fight is not over.

“I—and all of my colleagues— will keep working to hold this administration accountable, make sure our communities get the resources they are owed, and make certain President Trump follows the law as intended by Congress.”

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