As federal grant cuts loom, uncertainty reigns

In Washington on Feb. 26, President Donald Trump issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to review most contracts and grants within 30 days to determine whether they should be terminated, modified or re-negotiated. Meanwhile, the Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency claimed it had already saved $65 billion by ending nearly 2,300 federal agreements.

The flood of activity represents an unprecedented attempt by the newly re-elected President to radically downsize and restructure the federal government. And In Jefferson County, officials are trying to figure out how to navigate it.

Some cuts, mostly modest ones, have already started trickling down to local agencies and government in the form of paused or cancelled programs. For many more programs, the ultimate impact of shifting federal policy remains unclear.