Jim Justice sees backing Trump as his Senate mandate

Josh Steinfellow Democrat

I am concerned that freezing federal funding will hurt North Carolinians, especially those recovering in WNC, ... My office is currently reviewing and seeking clarity about what OMB’s order to freeze federal grants means for our state. We are also working with federal partners to ensure people in WNC get the support they need

Stein, a Democratic, wrote on X

Glenn Youngkinrepublican

I’ve spoken to senior officials at the White House and confirmed the temporary pause by OMB does not impact individual assistance and will not interrupt disaster recovery efforts, school and childcare funding, healthcare for seniors or low-income families, funding for our roads, meals and lunches, or any other misinformation that has spread,

Youngkin, a Republican, said in a statement

We have jurisdiction over people who live here, people who leave here and people who come here. We have jurisdiction over products that come into this country and which ones leave. We have jurisdiction over our internet, what comes in, what goes out,

Noem said

I believe that the 2020 election was rigged

Vought wrote

I’m calling on Trump to undo this chaos IMMEDIATELY,

Heinrich wrote

Letitia Jamesnew York Attorney General

There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional, from the families who rely upon head start for child care, to the children across the country who depend on SNAP for their next meal, to the seniors who rely on state services to get the care that they need,

New York Attorney General Letitia James told reporters

The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage. We have confirmed no payments have been affected — they are still being processed and sent,

she wrote

Ron Wydenoregon Senator

My staff has confirmed reports that Medicaid portals are down in all 50 states following last night’s federal funding freeze,

Wyden wrote

Karoline Leavittpress secretary

American taxpayers pay for the salaries of federal government employees, and therefore deserve employees working on their behalf who actually show up to work in our wonderful federal buildings, also paid for by taxpayers. If they don’t want to work in the office and contribute to making America great again, then they are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of 8 months.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement

This is a matter of public and congressional accountability and ensuring the public’s confidence in the Inspector General community, a sentiment shared more broadly by other Members of Congress, ... IGs are critical to rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct within the Executive Branch bureaucracy, which you have publicly made clear you are also intent on doing."

the letter continues

The OMB Directive violates the separation of powers because the executive branch has overridden the careful judgements of Congress by refusing to disburse funding for innumerable federal grant programs—some of which are even formula grants dictated by precise statutory formulas. Pausing funding under the affected programs and permanent refusal to disburse funds appropriated by Congress contrary to congressional intent and directive both violate the separation of powers,

attorneys general argued in the lawsuit

While IGs aren’t immune from committing acts requiring their removal, and they can be removed by the president, the law must be followed,

the senators' letter reads

We need it now. We needed it yesterday and without conditions, and it's unfortunate that it's being put at risk, not just from potential conditions being imposed by the president, but also by this memo,

he said at a news conference, referring to a Sunday executive order calling for a review of the agency

Virtually, I tell people we have jurisdiction over everything, and we will exercise all legal authorities that we have to protect this country,

she added

That’s what this pause is focused on, being good stewards of tax dollars,

she said

Students will lose access to learning opportunities if Head Start programs are shuttered. Parents will be cut off from childcare services they depend on so they can go to work and provide for their families. Students will go hungry if school meals are taken away,

she said

I didn’t come here to be a rubber stamp. If you wanted that, you could just get Babydog to vote all the time, you know?”

Justice said in an interview, pointing to the droolly sidekick seated in a chair next to him

I really am a commonsense guy, all about reason and logic,

Justice said

At the end of the day,

Justice said,

Energy is our best defense mechanism,

he said, acknowledging