Rockland organization reacts to federal funding freeze announcements
The White House press secretary posted online that the funding freeze was not rescinded and that the president's executive orders on federal funding would remain.
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On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget rescinded a memo issued Monday that stated there would be a freeze to spending of federal funds.
Then, the White House press secretary posted online that the funding freeze was not rescinded and that the president's executive orders on federal funding would remain.
"There needs to be some clarification. At the end of the day, People to People are still going to feed people. But at some point, the government has the responsibility to make it significantly clearer as to what the rules are now," said Diane Serratore about funding.
Serratore is the executive director of People to People, a Rockland organization that is said to be the county's largest food pantry.
"Dealing with the federal government that seems to change it's mind every other minute makes it very difficult to do any kind of planning," she says.
Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Lawler's office said a letter was sent out to about 100 nonprofits and elected officials in the district after Monday's funding freeze was announced. He says direct federal help like SNAP, Social Security and other programs are not impacted.
"There's no question that as the new administration comes in they are going to be reviewing federal spending," said the federal lawmaker in a virtual interview Wednesday morning. "And Congress has made clear we are going to be reviewing federal spending."
