HARRISBURG, PA — A group of Democratic state lawmakers introduced legislation this week designed to shield Pennsylvania from what they describe as unlawful federal funding freezes that jeopardize public safety, schools, and essential services across the commonwealth.
The bill package, titled the Prohibiting the Political Weaponization of Pennsylvania Food and Water Act, is sponsored by Reps. Tarik Khan of Philadelphia, Chris Pielli of Chester County, Carol Kazeem of Delaware County, Tarah Probst of Monroe/Pike Counties, and G. Roni Green of Philadelphia.
Under the proposal, Pennsylvania would be authorized to intercept certain payments to the federal government equal to the amount of aid that has been improperly withheld. The legislation would also permit the commonwealth to place statutory liens on non-essential federal properties located in Pennsylvania when lawfully appropriated funds are frozen for political reasons.
“These are our resources — Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars that were already approved by Congress to support our food programs, our clean water, schools, infrastructure and public services,” Khan said. “When those funds are frozen for political reasons, families, workers and older adults suffer and pay the price.”
The lawmakers pointed to several recent incidents as evidence of growing fiscal instability. Earlier this year, the Trump administration froze nearly $2 billion owed to Pennsylvania, prompting Gov. Josh Shapiro to take legal action before the funds were restored. The freeze, officials said, threatened drinking water safety and impacted jobs across the state. More recently, about $230 million in federal education dollars was delayed, leaving school districts uncertain about budgets. This week, federal officials announced plans to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding — SNAP — from certain states, potentially affecting food access for vulnerable families.
“Even short delays in funding cause real harm,” Pielli said. “School budgets are disrupted, local governments face cash-flow crises, and families are left worried about basic needs. These are not abstract disputes. They hit classrooms, grocery bills and community services in real time.”
Legislators noted that states including Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin are pursuing similar measures to defend against politically motivated federal funding interruptions.
“This is about protecting the safety of the commonwealth, fairness and making it clear that Pennsylvanians will not cow to political extremism,” Khan said. “No administration should be able to hold our residents hostage by turning off the funding that keeps communities safe, healthy and working.”
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