Republicans have often criticized Democrats, claiming they want to “defund the police.” However, this week, it was actually President Donald Trump who took actions that resulted in cutting funds, according to New Jersey’s Attorney General, Matthew Platkin.
In an interview with CNN’s John Berman on Wednesday, Platkin explained that Trump’s decision to freeze federal grants and loans has unlawfully stopped money from reaching important government programs, such as Medicaid. This freeze has also taken away crucial funding from law enforcement agencies.
Platkin described Trump’s actions as shocking and unheard of. He said that the president, driven by a personal political grudge, decided to block potentially trillions of dollars in funding. This move affects many areas, including healthcare for seniors, education for children, and support for police departments. Platkin shared that he received a notice just the day before, informing him that all funding for efforts to combat drug cartels had been frozen. He emphasized, “He defunded the police!”
New Jersey, along with several other states, is now part of a group suing the federal government to stop this freeze. Berman noted that this lawsuit is different from another legal case that temporarily paused the freeze until 5 p.m. ET on Monday, February 3.
Berman also mentioned that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently stated the administration is ready to fight these legal challenges. This situation highlights the ongoing conflict over funding and its impact on essential services and law enforcement.
