White House mulls slashing federal funds to cities labeled ‘anarchist jurisdictions’: report

Trump administration officials have reportedly considered cutting millions of dollars for COVID-19 and other health programs in cities led by Democratic lawmakers that the Department of Justice has said “permit anarchy.”

Politico reported late Tuesday New York City; Portland, Ore.; Washington, D.C.; and Seattle could lose funding for health programs that serve low-income residents, the elderly and others, according to documents it obtained. Nearly 200 health programs could face cuts from the Trump administration, it added. 

A list sent to the White House budget office on Friday from the Department of Health and Human Services includes approximately 1,500 funding awards that have been given to the four cities since 2018, according to the news outlet.

The list covers 185 programs including everything from an initiative to end HIV transmission by the end of the decade to research into the opioid crisis and lung diseases, Politico noted. The list also includes funding for programs that provide hearing screenings for newborns in D.C. and nutritional services in New York City and more.

President Trump last month issued an order requiring agency heads to submit reports detailing federal funding sent to New York City, D.C., Portland and Seattle.

“My Administration will do everything in its power to prevent weak mayors and lawless cities from taking Federal dollars while they let anarchists harm people, burn buildings, and ruin lives and businesses. We’re putting them on notice today,” the president tweeted at the time.

The Justice Department has designated New York City, Seattle and Portland as jurisdictions “permitting violence and destruction of property.” The agency said last month that more cities could be added to the list of so-called anarchist jurisdictions.

An anonymous official from the Office of Management and Budget told Politico in its new report that reviews of the programs are in preliminary phases and that the Trump administration will make decisions about grants individually.

The Hill has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment.