San Antonio Rep. Joaquin Castro says Trump’s funding freeze is unconstitutional

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro on Tuesday blasted the Trump administration’s freeze of federal funding and grants as “unconstitutional” and accused the president of “acting like a king.”   

The San Antonio Democrat’s comments came during a press call minutes after U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued an order pausing the White House’s plan for a week.

AliKhan said the ruling is intended to “maintain the status quo,” Reuters reports. A follow-up hearing to hear additional evidence is set for Monday, according to the wire service.

During his call, Castro warned that Trump’s proposed funding freeze could end up harming the Alamo City.

“There’s a lot of federal money that benefits San Antonio,” Castro said. “If that chunk of money is gone, then there’s going to be a big hole in the city’s budget. That’s a big problem not just for politicians at City Hall, it’s a big problem for San Antonio and our economy.”

Indeed, San Antonio’s current annual budget includes $325 million in federal funding, some of which supports critical services such as the police department, infrastructure projects and other “vital needs within the community,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a Tuesday statement.

“If confusion and chaos were the goal — mission accomplished,” Nirenberg said, adding, “These are your tax dollars being withheld from your communities.”

Castro said his office made contact with San Antonio City Hall Tuesday. However, the congressman said he hasn’t yet spoken directly with Nirenberg.

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This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.