"White House Halts $11B For Water Projects In Blue States"

"Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said projects in Boston, Baltimore and New York, among others, were “immediately” paused due to the shutdown."

"The Trump administration is “pausing” more than $11 billion in water infrastructure projects to 12 Democrat-controlled states, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said Friday.

The Army Corps of Engineers projects in California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Oregon, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware and Colorado are now “under review,” according to the Office of Management and Budget. About $7 billion of the funds were set to go to New York.

The administration is considering canceling the projects because of Democrats’ alleged role in the government shutdown, which has “drained the Army Corps of Engineers’ ability to manage billions of dollars in projects,” Vought wrote on X. It’s the latest in a slew of federal funding threats and cuts from the White House targeting states that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris since the shutdown began."

Miranda Willson reports for E&E News October 17, 2025.

Source: E&E News, 10/22/2025