Delaware County is feeling the effect of President Trump’s executive orders that withhold federal funds from some local programs, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.
A traffic safety initiative along Route 291 is on hold, along with a school safety blueprint, a lead reduction program, and a flood assessment of the Darby-Cobbs Watershed.
County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is not “executing the grant agreements.”
“There are also a couple of housing and community development projects, including physical upgrades for accessibility and education on fair housing that may be impacted, and we are working on guidance,” O’Malley said.
Some workforce development services to minority-, women-, and veteran-led businesses are being altered so federal funding can continue. Otherwise, the county would have to pay for those services.
An initial freeze on all federal funds that is now in limbo would have had a major impact on Delaware County, which receives $225 million in federal funding for services to county residents.
Places like Fair Acres Geriatric Center rely almost entirely on federal funds to maintain its $75 million budget.
Find out more about the impact a loss in federal funding would have on Delaware County at WHYY.
