Trump Starves Blue States, Media Calls It 'Policy'
In 2018, the Trump administration, under the guise of an 'annual review,' withheld federal grants from California, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington – all states with Democratic governors at the time. This wasn't merely bureaucratic oversight; it was a deliberate tactic. The Hill’s framing as a neutral 'funding freeze' obscures the political vendetta, punishing states for their
blue leanings, while the federal government simultaneously doles out billions to other nations without a blink. (Just ask Senator McConnell, who in 2023 pushed for another $14.3 billion to Israel, while domestic programs faced cuts.) One might wonder if the 'review' process for starving healthcare, foster care, and mental health programs in states that didn't vote the 'right' way is as rigorous as
the one fast-tracking weapon shipments. The federal largesse for foreign military aid (to paraphrase a common criticism regarding similar aid, say, to Israel) often bypasses such fiscal freezes. It seems some 'national interests' are more universally accepted than ensuring citizens in certain states have access to basic social safety nets.