Trump Administration Has Cut or Frozen Up to $177 Billion in Federal Grants

The Trump administration has cut, frozen or delayed as much as $177 billion in federal grants since President Donald Trump began his second term, according to a new analysis by the States United Democracy Center and Grant Witness. The total represents nearly 10% of annual federal discretionary spending, according to the organizations.

The groups launched a public tracking database called Lost Funds, which compiles information from the federal government’s USASpending.gov database. It documents thousands of funding disruptions affecting all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The largest categories of affected grants involve health care, nutrition, environmental programs and disaster relief. Examples cited by the researchers include funding for maternal health programs in Michigan, education research in Mississippi and assistance for minority farmers in Iowa. California, Texas, New York, Illinois and North Carolina experienced the largest dollar amounts of interrupted funding.

The organizations behind the tracker argue that the scale of these changes goes beyond the normal adjustments that occur when a new administration takes office. They say the database is intended to document both the financial and practical effects of the administration's funding decisions.

Some of the administration's grant cancellations have been challenged in federal court, and courts have blocked or overturned certain cuts. Because litigation and administration decisions remain ongoing, the $177 billion figure includes grants that have been eliminated, frozen or delayed, rather than necessarily representing $177 billion permanently eliminated from federal spending.

States United describes itself as a nonpartisan organization focused on elections and the rule of law. It was co-founded by attorney Norm Eisen, who has participated in litigation against the Trump administration; Eisen left the organization in 2024. Grant Witness consists of scientists, researchers and attorneys tracking changes in federal funding.

AP reported that it contacted the White House for comment on the analysis.

Source: Associated Press, Mike Catalini, Sept. 16, 2026.