BELLEVILLE, IL. (First Alert 4) -Rep. Nikki Budzinski visited the Metro East on Wednesday and expressed strong opposition to a memo issued this week by former President Donald Trump’s administration.

“Now this day-to-day anxiety of not knowing what the next Trump executive order or memo is going to be,” said Budzinski.

On Monday, a memo from Trump’s administration issued a temporary pause on all federal funds that may have been implicated by seven of the president’s executive orders.

A federal judge that same day paused the freeze. Then on Wednesday, the Trump administration stated the memo had been rescinded, but the executive orders remain in effect.

“Everyone is really uncertain now as to what the future is,” said Mark Kern, chairman of the St. Clair County Board.

Kern said they had real worries that low-income housing assistance could be in jeopardy and concerns about future federal funding.

“It is a significant part of the county budget,” said Kern.

Kern said that while they normally budget annually, uncertainty may force them to evaluate some items on a month-to-month basis, including continued plans for Frank Scott Parkway.

“Where we have road projects that have started, people are concerned, those contractors are concerned, will we stop construction on Frank Scott Parkway,” said Kern.

Kern said he feels better after the memo was rescinded Wednesday.

Budzinski cited free and reduced lunch programs, $41 million in funding for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and even Medicaid funding as areas that could have been at risk.

“The sheer panic that President Donald Trump created yesterday when they issued that memo,” said Budzinski.

Budzinski added that the federal government should be evaluating reckless spending but should do so when creating a budget.

“Not in hindsight giving the president power that he does have legally to review and revise commitments that have been made to communities,” said Budzinski.

Not all leaders in Illinois were concerned. Madison County Board Chair Chris Slusser, a Republican, said he is not worried because the federal money the county receives does not conflict with the president’s executive orders.

SLU law professor Marcia McCormick told First Alert 4 that the president does not have this power, as only Congress has the power of the purse, but Trump could be hoping the current Supreme Court changes the interpretation.

Copyright 2025 KMOV. All rights reserved.