Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Federal funding

Federal Officials Cite Fraud Concerns In Proposed Cuts Affecting Colorado and 3 Other States
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Federal Officials Cite Fraud Concerns In Proposed Cuts Affecting Colorado and 3 Other States

By: Thelma Grimes | The Denver Gazette The Trump’s administration is planning to withhold some public health and transportation money from a group of Democratic-led states, including Colorado. The other states are California, Illinois and Minnesota. Full details have not been released, including whether the states could take any steps to avoid losing the funding. Colorado has sued the White House or joined lawsuits filed by other states over similar efforts to withhold funding. The federal government cited concerns over fraud and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Health and Human Services said the state learned of the potential cuts through the media and has not been formally notified by the federal agency. ...
Boebert Delivers Nearly $15 Million for Rural Water and Infrastructure Projects
kdvr.com, Approved, State

Boebert Delivers Nearly $15 Million for Rural Water and Infrastructure Projects

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR DENVER (KDVR) — Rep. Lauren Boebert secured nearly $15 million for clean water projects in rural areas of Colorado, only about a month after President Donald Trump issued the first-ever veto to a unanimously-approved, bipartisan bill, the “Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act,” on Dec. 30, which would have funded the completion of a 130-mile pipeline that would have delivered clean water to over 50,000 residents in southeastern Colorado. Now, 13 communities in Boebert’s district, the 4th Congressional District, have secured $14.75 million in funding for water and infrastructure projects, after requests were signed into law. “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that 13 of my community project funding requests have been signed int...
Trump Moves to Cut Federal Funds to Sanctuary Cities Starting Feb. 1
Fox News, Approved, National

Trump Moves to Cut Federal Funds to Sanctuary Cities Starting Feb. 1

By Emma Bussey | Fox News Move targets jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump said his administration will cease federal payments to sanctuary cities and states with sanctuary policies starting Feb. 1, while citing jurisdictions that protect criminals and fuel fraud and crime. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said the move was aimed at cities and states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and in the administration's bid to stamp out fraud. "Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens," Trump said. "...
Colorado Risks $24M in Federal Funds as thousands of Commercial Driver’s Licenses Were Issued Illegally
DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Risks $24M in Federal Funds as thousands of Commercial Driver’s Licenses Were Issued Illegally

By: The Associated Press | Denver7 DENVER (AP) — The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation threatened Monday to withhold $24 million in federal funding from the state of Colorado for what he described as a slow response to a major violation of federal commercial driver's license regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pointed to a nationwide audit conducted in October that found about 22% of the commercial licenses doled out by Colorado to immigrants were done so illegally, many to Mexican nationals — a practice that's prohibited under federal law. Duffy accused Colorado of “slow walking” the required purge of these licenses. He said the state has failed to complete a full audit, provide a complete accounting of affected drivers, or revoke the inv...
Minnesota’s Medicaid Scandal Shows Why Colorado Must Tighten the Guardrails
Complete Colorado, Approved, Commentary, State

Minnesota’s Medicaid Scandal Shows Why Colorado Must Tighten the Guardrails

By Cory Gaines | Complete Colorado To say Minnesota has had some fraud going on is an understatement. I don’t know that I’ve seen it mentioned much in local media, but it’s a big national story. Colorado should beware taking its turn in this barrel. First, some brief background. Minnesota sought (and received) Medicaid waivers during COVID to use taxpayer dollars to fund things like subsidized housing for recipients, which ended up an impetus for massive fraud. An MPR News article gives some context, but the sheer size of the numbers are what really popped out to me: “According to the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, DHS [Minnesota Department of Housing Stabilization] had initially predicted the housing stabilization program would cost about $2.6 mill...
Conservatives Unite to End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers
The Daily Signal, Approved, National

Conservatives Unite to End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers

By: Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell | The Daily Signal FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The pro-life movement has determined its newest priority: preventing Planned Parenthood from receiving full funding again, starting July 4. “Next year, our nation will mark its 250th anniversary. A celebration of human dignity and the God-given rights proclaimed in our founding,” Live Action founder and president Lila Rose told The Daily Signal. “But we cannot celebrate freedom while subsidizing the killing of American children.” President Donald Trump’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill” instructed the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, that received more than $800,000,000 from Medicaid in 2023. But on July 4, America’...
Hospitals on life support: Report says 70% of Colorado facilities losing money
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Hospitals on life support: Report says 70% of Colorado facilities losing money

By Marissa Ventrelli | The Denver Gazette Nearly 70% of Colorado hospitals ended 2024 with “unsustainable” margins, according to a new financial report from the Colorado Hospital Association. Tom Rennell, the group’s senior vice president of financial policy and data analytics, said hospitals’ expenses are outpacing their revenue, as an increasing number of Colorado patients are losing their insurance coverage, partially due to the post-pandemic Medicaid unwind. “Over the last several years since the COVID times and through the high inflationary times, hospitals have been experiencing some significant econmic turbulence,” Rennell said. “We don’t have the full picture yet, but I can tell you that what we’re seeing so far in 2025 is that there has been even more of a deterioration a...
Denver Takes Trump Administration to Court Over Alleged Funding Restrictions
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Denver Takes Trump Administration to Court Over Alleged Funding Restrictions

By: Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — The city and county of Denver has joined Chicago, New York, Boston and more in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly imposing illegal conditions for grant funding. Denver said that the new lawsuit aims to prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency from requiring compliance with the current administration’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion to get grant funding. “President Trump is threatening to strip cities of critical funding for everything from fighting fires to protecting concertgoers at Red Rocks from serious threats,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in a release. “These grants have nothing to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion and everything to ...
Colorado Democrats Push DOE to Restore $600M in Cancelled Energy Grants
Just The News, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Push DOE to Restore $600M in Cancelled Energy Grants

By: Elyse Apel | Just The News Colorado Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, joined together to sign a letter calling for the U.S. Department of Energy to restore over $600 million in funding for 38 Colorado-affiliated energy projects. Colorado Democrats joined together to sign a letter calling for the U.S. Department of Energy to restore over $600 million in funding for 38 Colorado-affiliated energy projects. In the letter, Colorado's U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Colorado U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse, Diana DeGette, Jason Crow and Brittany Pettersen argue the cuts are harmful to the state. “By cancelling over $600 million in energy-sector funding, much of which directly supported grid reliability, DOE is making it more di...
Rural Colorado Airports Face Flight Cuts if DC Gridlock Continues
DENVER7, Approved, State

Rural Colorado Airports Face Flight Cuts if DC Gridlock Continues

By Shannon Ogden | Denver7 The Essential Air Service (EAS) provides federal subsidies to commercial airlines to serve small, rural airports that would not otherwise have commercial air service. DENVER — A key lifeline for rural communities may soon be cut. Small commercial airports in Colorado and nationwide may see flight cancellations if the government shutdown continues. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) would lapse Sunday if the government doesn't reopen by then. EAS provides federal subsidies to commercial airlines to serve small, rural airports that would not otherwise have commercial air service. This includes the airports in Cortez, Pueblo, and Alamosa in Colorado, as well as 174 other communities nationwide. ...