Governor Josh Shapiro took a trip to the White House last month with a clear mission: unfreeze more than $2.1 billion in federal funds that had been put on hold, writes Gillian McGoldrick for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
During a February luncheon with President Donald Trump’s cabinet members, Abington’s Shapiro made his case directly to top officials. His efforts came after weeks of behind-the-scenes lobbying—and even a lawsuit against the administration—failed to restore the funding, which was mostly earmarked for environmental and energy projects.
Shapiro’s team says he came prepared with a list of impacted programs and handed it over when a senior official asked for details. When he left the White House, he was told the funds were being unfrozen. Later that night, he got a call confirming it. On February 24, he announced that the money was officially accessible again, crediting his advocacy.
The Trump administration, however, disputes his version of events, insisting the funds were restored as part of an ongoing review process—not due to political pressure.
With a looming budget shortfall and his reelection on the horizon, Shapiro still has plenty of battles ahead—including his lawsuit against the Trump administration, which remains pending in federal court.
Read more about Josh Shapiro’s efforts to unfreeze funding in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
