Following President Trump’s decision to pause federal loans and grants for a spending review, Houston officials are evaluating the potential impact on the city. Mayor Whitmire has instructed his team to analyze the executive orders and ensure continued collaboration at all levels of government.
Houston authorities are evaluating possible effects on city programs and services in response to President Donald Trump's halt on federal grants and loans for a spending review. Announced by the Office of Budget Management as part of the administration's more extensive assessment of government spending, the temporary freeze is slated to take effect at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Mayor John Whitmire has instructed municipal staff to review the several executive orders released by the Trump administration closely to ascertain how Houston might be impacted. On Tuesday, Chief of Communications Mary Benton issued a statement stressing the mayor's dedication to cooperative efforts with federal, state, and local partners.
"Mayor Whitmire knows of the stop in federal grants declared by the Office of Budget Management," Benton said. "He has instructed team members to go over the several Trump Administration executive actions to ascertain the effect they will have on the City of Houston. Mayor Whitmire values cooperation and will keep working with our federal, state, and local partners in Houstonians' best interests.
Although the specifics of the funding freeze are still under review, Houston officials are more concerned with ensuring vital city services run nonstop. The stop in federal grants and loans might profoundly affect local infrastructure projects, public safety financing, and social programs that depend on federal support.
Local governments nationwide, including Houston, are closely watching developments as the Trump administration works through its study to decide what to do next.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has recorded 22 people found dead in bayous this year, a higher number than Houston police had previously confirmed and first reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Community leaders in Houston’s Third Ward on Tuesday urged residents to stay calm as they awaited more information about the 15 bodies found in area bayous this year—including six in just two weeks—and pledged that law enforcement would release further investigative details soon.