Trump Administration Releases $2.1B In Frozen PA Funds, Gov. Says

HARRISBURG, PA — President Donald Trump's administration has released billions in federal aid for Pennsylvania 11 days after Gov. Josh Shapiro accused the government of withholding it illegally and unconstitutionally.

Shapiro said on Monday that that state agencies now can access the $2.1 billion in funding that the governor alleged in a lawsuit had been either frozen or rendered unobtainable pending an unspecified review.

Shapiro filed the lawsuit against Trump administration officials on Feb. 13 that challenged the ongoing freeze of federal funds despite multiple court orders to release them. Five federal agencies were named as defendants: the White House Office of Management and Budget, the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Interior and Transportation.

"As a result of our lawsuit and our continued pressure on and engagement with the Trump administration, every dollar we identified at the filing of our lawsuit is currently unfrozen and once again accessible to Pennsylvania state agencies in accordance with legal injunctions currently in place," Shapiro said at a news conference.

Shapiro asserted that the freeze jeopardized federal funding for critical endeavors such as:

• Reducing consumer costs: Federal money already has been Congressionally allocated - but not disbursed - to help up to 28,000 Pennsylvania households lower their utility bills.

• Reclaiming abandoned mine land: Currently frozen abandoned mine land dollars would allow the state to reclaim 24,000 acres of abandoned mine land across Pennsylvania, construct or maintain 16 water treatment systems that deal with toxic runoff from abandoned mines, and respond to about 60 emergency events per year.

• Capping and plugging orphan wells: The withheld federal money would help plug more than 500 orphaned and abandoned wells that are releasing toxic chemicals in communities across the state.

Shapiro said he visited the White House last Friday to discuss the funding freeze with Trump's senior team and cabinet.

"I urged them to follow the law and honor their agreements with Pennsylvania," Shapiro said. "This is basic stuff. Kids learn this in grade school. It’s how our Constitution works."