BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF SEN. WARNER’S SPEECH IS AVAILABLE HERE

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today spoke on the Senate floor about the recklessness of President Trump’s attempt to freeze all federal funding.

“President Trump got hired because he promised to bring down prices. None of this is going to bring down grocery prices. None of this is going to bring down consumer prices. None of this is going to make our government more efficient or effective… This is day 10 of the Trump administration. We have chaos on steroids… In the meantime, I implore the administration: get your act together. Don’t put out two separate statements totally contradicting each other. It just makes chaos and stress go up.”

Sen. Warner’s remarks follow an unlawful directive from President Trump on Monday night to freeze trillions in government grants, loans, and programs. The pause directly threatened countless federal benefits, funding for public schools and community health centers, local domestic violence shelters, firefighters and law enforcement, and much more.

On Tuesday evening, a federal judge halted the unlawful order. On Wednesday afternoon, OMB seemingly rescinded the order, before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added fuel to the fire with a confusing tweet that implied the freeze was not canceled. The battle, while paused for now, is currently working its way through the federal court system. 

Sen. Warner’s full remarks as prepared are below:

Mr. President, I rise to the floor today amid a great deal of confusion.

Two days ago… the Trump administration issued an order to freeze all federal spending.

Earlier today… less than 48 hours later…that order was formally rescinded.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Shortly thereafter, the White House tweeted… that the federal funding freeze remains in place... and will be rigorously implemented.

So I ask… which one is it?

Unfortunately… I’m not the only one asking that question. And I’ve got a list of stressed-out Virginians to prove it.

In Virginia, federal funding supports countless programs that serve children… seniors… community infrastructure needs… and more.

Yesterday alone, my office was flooded with outreach from organizations and local governments.

I heard from firefighters in Southwest Virginia. They’re worried that they won’t be able to replace their tanker truck without the funding that was supposed to head their way.

I heard from an affordable housing organization in Northern Virginia. They’re worried that they will need to cease operations entirely.

I heard from law enforcement in the Valley… and the greater-Richmond area. These localities rely on federal funding to pay the salaries of several police officers.

That’s right… this federal funding freeze will take cops off the streets. 

I also heard from a number of domestic violence shelters across the Commonwealth. Without funding… they’ll have to leave battered women and children without housing support.

You’ve also got meals for low-income seniors… child care for vulnerable kids… support for teens who have been trafficked… that’s what’s on the chopping block.

As someone who ran a business… as someone who ran the Commonwealth… this is unbelievable.

This is not the way to run the most important enterprise in the world: the American government.

And the truth is: Rescinded or not… these chaotic antics have real consequences.

I know of organizations in Virginia that had to call emergency board meetings yesterday.

I’ve heard from folks who are worried that they’ll have to lay off all their employees. Without federal funding… many organizations simply won’t be able to make payroll.

One Virginian wrote in, saying “the mental and physical damage is already immense.”

It’s not right to toy with people’s lives… or with the resources that keep folks fed… police employed… fire departments stocked… and domestic violence shelters running.

As long as I’m Senator, I’m going to keep fighting back against these antics, which frankly, make the President’s first term look organized.

With that, Mr./Madam President, I yield the floor.   

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