{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-kaptur-blast-russ-voughts-move-to-block-funding-for-army-corps-projects-in-democratic-states-and-cities/", "Murray, Kaptur Blast Russ Vought\u2019s Move to Block Funding for Army Corps Projects in Democratic States and Cities", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WA", "Patty Murray", "M001111", "www.murray.senate.gov", "murray", "https://www.murray.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Top energy appropriators outline how funding \u201cpause\u201d risks leaving communities vulnerable to storms and floods and places political retribution above public safety\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers blasting the recent announcement from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought that the Trump administration will immediately pause over $11 billion in funding for essential Corps projects in blue states and cities and will be \u201cconsidering them for cancellation.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, Murray and Kaptur slam the purported rationale for the politically-motivated \u201cfreeze,\u201d writing: \u201cDirector Vought justified this \u2018pause\u2019 by absurdly claiming it was necessary because the government shutdown \u2018has drained the Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 ability to manage billions of dollars in projects.\u2019 That is not how this works\u2014and everyone knows it. Director Vought is once again recklessly threatening communities\u2019 safety and treating the American people as pawns in his political games. Earlier in the week, the Trump administration warned of more political retribution against Democrats, and yet again, Vought has delivered, seeking to inflict more pain on the American people.\u201d\n\nThe top water development appropriators underscore what\u2019s at risk with the pause: \u201cLet\u2019s be clear: undermining these critical infrastructure projects jeopardizes public safety and will inflict serious economic harm on communities that depend on these vital investments. The Corps protects communities by providing flood control, ensuring safe navigation of the nation\u2019s waterways, environmental restoration, and emergency response\u2014work that saves lives and supports local economies.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis craven political threat betrays working families and our nation\u2019s obligation to protect life and property,\u201d they write. \u201cIt risks leaving communities more vulnerable to storms and floods\u2014and puts at risk the projects that literally save lives\u2014levees, floodwalls, wastewater upgrades, coastal protections, and so much more.\u201d\n\nMurray and Kaptur also note that neither Vought nor the Corps nor OMB has provided any transparency to date about the projects that the Trump administration says it has paused funding for: \u201cIncredibly, despite this administration\u2019s claims to be the \u201cmost transparent administration,\u201d neither OMB nor the Corps of Engineers has publicly released\u2014or provided to Congress\u2014a list of the projects that Director Vought says he is targeting with his action. That, too, is unacceptable. The American people deserve transparency about how their taxpayer dollars are being spent\u2014and how this administration is hurting public safety in their own communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe demand that you immediately unpause all projects that have been halted since Director Vought\u2019s announcement and restore them to their previous operational status, provide details about all projects that have been affected thus far, and explain what statutory or regulatory authority the Corps claims to have to pause or cancel work on congressionally authorized and appropriated projects,\u201d they conclude.\n\nThe full letter is available HERE and below:\n\nThe Honorable Adam Telle\n\nAssistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works\n\nU.S. Department of the Army\n\nOffice of the Assistant Secretary (Civil Works)\n\n104 Army Pentagon\n\nWashington, DC 20310\n\nLieutenant General William H. Graham\n\nCommanding General and Chief of Engineers\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers\n\n441 G Street NW\n\nWashington, DC 20314\n\nDear Assistant Secretary Telle and General Graham:\n\nThe Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought posted on X that the Army Corps of Engineers will immediately pause over $11 billion in funding for essential Corps projects, including in \u201cNew York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore\u201d and will be \u201cconsidering them for cancellation.\u201d Director Vought justified this \u201cpause\u201d by absurdly claiming it was necessary because the government shutdown \u201chas drained the Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 ability to manage billions of dollars in projects.\u201d That is not how this works\u2014and everyone knows it. Director Vought is once again recklessly threatening communities\u2019 safety and treating the American people as pawns in his political games. Earlier in the week, the Trump administration warned of more political retribution against Democrats, and yet again, Vought has delivered, seeking to inflict more pain on the American people.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear: undermining these critical infrastructure projects jeopardizes public safety and will inflict serious economic harm on communities that depend on these vital investments. The Corps protects communities by providing flood control, ensuring safe navigation of the nation\u2019s waterways, environmental restoration, and emergency response\u2014work that saves lives and supports local economies. This craven political threat betrays working families and our nation\u2019s obligation to protect life and property. It risks leaving communities more vulnerable to storms and floods\u2014and puts at risk the projects that literally save lives\u2014levees, floodwalls, wastewater upgrades, coastal protections, and so much more.\n\nIt has not escaped anyone\u2019s notice that the states and cities Director Vought has said he is targeting are cities represented by Democrats. This transparent political targeting of American communities is unconscionable, and unfortunately, it is par for the course for this White House. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority for partisan political purposes, and this prohibition extends to all federal agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget and the Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers is a professional, non-partisan organization with a proud history of dutifully serving the American public over two centuries\u2014and once again, its proud mission is being corrupted by President Trump and Director Vought.\n\nFederal infrastructure investments should be based on engineering merit, cost-benefit analysis, community need, and statutory authorization\u2014not political retribution. Every American, regardless of how their neighbors vote, deserves federal flood protection, safe navigation channels, and clean waterways. Weaponizing the Army Corps of Engineers against political opposition degrades this essential institution and betrays its mission.\n\nIncredibly, despite this administration\u2019s claims to be the \u201cmost transparent administration,\u201d neither OMB nor the Corps of Engineers has publicly released\u2014or provided to Congress\u2014a list of the projects that Director Vought says he is targeting with his action. That, too, is unacceptable. The American people deserve transparency about how their taxpayer dollars are being spent\u2014and how this administration is hurting public safety in their own communities.\n\nFurther, Congress appropriated these funds through the lawful legislative process. The executive branch lacks the authority to unilaterally cancel congressionally authorized and funded projects. We demand that you immediately unpause all projects that have been halted since Director Vought\u2019s announcement and restore them to their previous operational status, provide details about all projects that have been affected thus far, and explain what statutory or regulatory authority the Corps claims to have to pause or cancel work on congressionally authorized and appropriated projects.\n\nMake no mistake\u2014this pause is already doing damage. The uncertainty harms local governments, unions, small businesses, and families. It weakens our nation\u2019s resilience against floods and disaster. It places political considerations above public safety. That is unacceptable.\n\nWe expect your prompt response no later than October 29 and look forward to working together to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers can continue its vital mission of serving all Americans.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-kaptur-blast-russ-voughts-move-to-block-funding-for-army-corps-projects-in-democratic-states-and-cities/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.031849067658186, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}