In the first three weeks of his administration, President Donald Trump has signed hundreds of executive orders, many of which are aimed at reducing the size of the federal government.
Those orders — directly or indirectly — put a bigger burden on states and local governments to close the gaps, either through higher taxes or service cuts. While Andover, for example, receives some direct federal money in the form of grants, it receives millions in state aide, some of which includes federal money passed onto municipalities.
Local officials are still trying to assess where and how the changes from the Trump administration and key Congressional Republicans will affect Andover. But the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan think tank, is warning state and local governments are “highly unlikely to backfill all the federal funding lost.”
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“There is no doubt that President Trump’s flurry of Executive Orders will have a negative local impact. I’m particularly concerned about the Administration’s attempts to freeze federal funding that directly supports our residents, like community health centers, veterans’ services, and mental health resources,” U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) said. “We have millions of dollars in federal funding that has already been passed into law and allocated to North Shore communities that could be jeopardized.”
Moulton’s office has been receiving hundreds of phone calls and email each day from constituents concerned about the changes from the Trump administration. An online survey received more than 600 responses from people concerned about a federal funding freeze announced earlier this month.
Reduced State Aide Could Trickle Down To Andover
State budgets are likely to be hardest hit, but it’s not clear how much of the burden will be passed on to local governments in the form of reduced state aid. Federal funding currently accounts for $1 out of every $3 spent by states, which often pass that money onto local governments in the form of grants and direct aide.
The Town of Andover, for example, received $17.3 million in state money this year. Another $14.5 million in the state budget was set aside for Andover Public Schools.
“I’m laser focused on ensuring that state government continues to work with our municipalities to provide high quality services within a reasonable budget,” state Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover) said.
The federal actions target education, health care, and food assistance and are aimed at shifting more costs to state and local governments. Proposed changes could cap program funding, lower reimbursement rates, and add new administrative requirements.
State Rep. Tram Nguyen (D-Andover) said the changes place “undue burdens on Massachusetts residents.
“Whether it’s attempts to roll back environmental protections, gut healthcare access, or target already vulnerable communities, these orders do not reflect our values,”Nguyen said. “Here in Massachusetts, we remain committed to fighting for policies that protect our democracy, support working families, strengthen our local economy, and uphold the rights of every individual—no matter what comes out of Washington.”
APS Monitoring Rapid Fire Changes At Federal Level
During his campaign, Trump promised to dismantle and eventually close the U.S. Department of education, saying the agency injects liberal ideology into public school curriculums. Trump has already placed DOE employees on administrative leave. On Friday, a group of Democratic lawmakers were denied entry into DOE offices.
“We will move everything back to the states, where it belongs,” Trump said during a campaign speech last year. “They can individualize education and do it with the love for their children.”
It remains unclear what impact that will have on federal money that had been previously spent on schools. APS spokesperson Nicole Kieser said the district pays particular attention to Massachusetts state laws and guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as it tries to assess the impact of changes at the federal level.
“We can understand any concerns families may have regarding recent headlines focused on changes to the U.S. Department of Education. We monitor these reports daily and continue to evaluate any potential impact to the district,” Kieser said. “The quick pace and nature of the possible changes can be overwhelming; our focus is always on providing a safe and supportive environment for our students.”