Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and the University of Wisconsin–Madison responded on Tuesday to President Donald Trump’s executive order to freeze federal spending. Trump has since rescinded the order after it sparked nationwide confusion and legal challenges.
Rhodes-Conway released the following statement:
“[Tuesday’s] directive from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has the potential to impact tens of millions of dollars in services for the residents of Madison. We are currently evaluating, at all levels of city government, what the tangible effects of this directive will be both immediately and in the future. Right now, there are many unanswered questions and we are working rapidly to make sense of this sweeping action which seems to be evolving by the hour.
“City staff are working on an initial inventory and dollar amount of federal funds the city receives and the services that could be impacted by recent federal actions. We will provide a more detailed update as soon as that information is complete.”
Meanwhile, UW–Madison administrators said that the university’s federally-funded research should continue as normal, according to WKOW. Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, Provost Charles Isbell, and Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota A. Grejner-Brzezinska, said in an email to faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate student researchers:
“Despite the current uncertainty, we believe it is appropriate for federally funded research activities at UW–Madison to continue, and students and employees supported by federal funding should continue their normal activities. However, … everyone should remain alert and adaptable as new information and directions become clear.”
According to administrators, one exception is for instances in which a federal agency has issued a stop-work order. UW–Madison has reportedly received a small number of these.
