Congressman Robert Garcia hosted a press conference Tuesday to condemn President Trump’s “reckless” federal funding freeze imposed through the Office of Management and Budget, which may impact billions of dollars in grant money for programs like school lunch programs, education funding, rental assistance, and housing grants.

He was joined by Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Executive Director of Long Beach Day Nursery Jennifer Harper, and Director of the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center Alec Colchico. Below are key excerpts from the Congressman’s remarks:

“Last night, the Trump administration took a drastic, confusing, and deeply harmful action, ordering a freeze starting tonight on almost all federal payments and loans. Let’s be clear – almost everything the federal government does for us has been disrupted and thrown into chaos.

“Today, nonprofit service providers and local government officials are trying to understand which of their incoming federal funds have been stopped and for how long. All kinds of grants to nonprofits, like Long Beach Day Nursery, could be threatened.”

Garcia has consistently advocated for a transparent government that operates legally and effectively and has fought to protect our nation’s social safety net. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, he has been instrumental in scrutinizing government operations to ensure transparency and accountability, passing two bills which later became law, to enhance government efficiency. Congressman Garcia pushed back on proposed cuts which will harm the middle class and working families. Congressman Garcia has been a vocal advocate for protecting programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, opposing any attempts to cut these vital services to line the pockets of billionaires. He co-sponsored the Social Security 2100 Act, which comprehensively strengthens and expands Social Security for all Americans, and the Social Security Fairness Act, ensuring millions of public servants get the full benefits that they worked so hard to earn, which became law under President Biden.