Press Release: Impact of Federal Fund Cuts on Oklahoma Nonprofits
In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, over $430 billion in federal funds have been frozen or interrupted, significantly impacting nonprofits across Oklahoma. Marnie Taylor, President and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, warns that these cuts threaten both the ability of organizations to serve their clients and their staff’s livelihoods.
"The challenges posed by COVID-19 were tough, but this is harder," Taylor stated, emphasizing the critical role of nonprofits, which employ more than 5,200 people, making it Oklahoma’s third-largest non-governmental employment sector. Federal funding has been vital to these organizations for years, and the recent disruptions have left them facing a disappearing safety net.
Taylor highlighted alarming consequences, noting that some organizations, like Oklahoma City’s Palomar Family Justice Center, have already lost major federal grants, resulting in workforce reductions of one-third. This pattern of downsizing extends to other nonprofits as well, including NewView Oklahoma, which provides jobs to individuals with visual disabilities. The loss of federal contracts has forced them to reduce staff as well.
Many nonprofits receive double the funding from federal sources than from private donations and often fulfill essential services that government agencies cannot handle independently. Despite the uncertainty, Taylor remains hopeful, stating, "I know we are resilient. What we will look like on the other side, I don’t know.”
Compounding these issues, the Trump administration has proposed cutting an additional $1 billion in federal grants that support mental health professionals in school districts, further threatening the well-being of communities across Oklahoma. The long-term effects of these funding disruptions could be devastating for families in need.
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