By james art 
Simplified: Several non -profit Sioux Falls organizations on Tuesday expressed concern that freezing federal loans and grants – a directive by President Donald Trump, who has been temporarily blocked by Federal Judge on Tuesday night – will prevent them from helping the people who need them Services. Meanwhile, local self -government agencies are relatively unpleasant.
Why does it matter
- The original letter from the US Management and Budget Service Leave many Sioux Falls service providers with more questions than answers.
- This includes Compass Center that announced instant pause on their youth votes in the prevention program. Executive Director Michelle Trent also noted that federal funds make up 40 to 60% of their annual budget.
- It is not clear the extent to which the pause can potentially influence the city, county or state Budget. City Finance Director Sean Pritchet said that the grants represent a “relatively insignificant” part of the city’s budget, and in the short term the city must be able to cover the gaps.
- The county staff did not respond to requests for comment, and the spokesman for the State Department of Social Services also declined to comment, but sent a note in which they describe in detail the guide to what it would be applied or not applied.
- There are also concerns among other non -profit organizations, many of which They rely on federal grants for a considerable part of their budgets. The Lutheran social services of the President and CEO of South Dakota Rebecca Cisou-Knudsen said her organization usually receives $ 6.5 million-just as a quarter of the total budget.
“This harms people,” said Kissou-Schnudsen. “This harms the services and agencies that provide services. I do not know how I will withstand it if it holds. There is definitely immediate harm if it remains.”
What happens after that?
Some of the non -profit organizations have called Ask the Community to contact the South Dakota Congress Delegation to support federal funding for their services.
- Compass Center and South Dakota Voices for Peace were among organizations publishing resources on social media on Tuesday.
“People rely on this money – sometimes for their lives,” Trent said. “In cases of clients who have fled from violent relationships, access to resources can be life or death.”
At the national level, The Associated Press reports that the federal judge is blocking the order to influence Monday night. The same hearing is scheduled that morning to discuss the freezing of funding.
Trent, meanwhile, said he encouraged people to Donate, voluntarily or offer emotional support to non -profit organizations that are in a stressful situation right now.
“It is difficult to fight for existence,” she added, noting that many non -profit organizations also have no deep well of reserves by nature, because this would make them unacceptable for many gratuitous funds. “This becomes tiring.”