Colorado has lost nearly $100 million in federal funding and has another $56 million at risk, according to a new public dashboard launched by Gov. Jared Polis’ office on Tuesday.
As state officials challenge some of the cuts by President Donald Trump’s administration, Polis created the dashboard to highlight the governor’s push for Coloradans to “get a fair share” of the federal taxes they pay, according to a news release. Polis cited a study by the Rockefeller Institute of Government showing that for every $1 Colorado pays in federal taxes, the state receives only 90 cents back in federal investment, not including COVID-related spending.
Colorado has also “successfully defended” another $282 million that the federal government sought to cancel, suspend or otherwise delay, according to the dashboard. The state data does not include proposed changes under the federal budget bill that is sitting in the Senate. The Trump-backed tax-and-spending bill has already passed the House.
“The Trump administration is trying to rip away local and state funding that supports cybersecurity and public safety, helps Coloradans access or charge low-cost electric vehicles, helps people access food and more,” Polis said in a statement.
“This is federal funding that has already been allocated to states by Congress, and now the administration is working to take it away,” he continued. “We are doing everything in our power to protect this funding for Coloradans and local governments, including pursuing legal action when necessary.”
He added that the dashboard will “help increase transparency and accountability.”
The Trump administration has worked to cut and reshape federal spending, regardless of whether Congress approved it or not.
Colorado and Denver faced cuts and freezes to spending for electric vehicle charging and clean water projects, grants for public health, and promised money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help house migrants, among other items.
The dashboard also breaks down cuts and attempted cuts by county and congressional district. It shows the 3rd and 4th congressional districts as facing the biggest enacted and proposed cuts, at $25.7 million and $21.8 million, respectively. Those districts are represented by Republican U.S. Reps. Jeff Hurd and Lauren Boebert.
The dashboard is not comprehensive, however. It does not include freezes or cuts to institutions of higher education, local agencies, nonprofits or other community partners, according to Polis’ office.
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