Horsford on Trump’s Attempted Funding Freeze: Life or Death for People in Our Community
Lawmaker Tours Local Nonprofit Medical Center Saving Lives with Funding Trump Attempted to Strip Away
NORTH LAS VEGAS – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) today toured Hope Christian Health Center (HCHC) in North Las Vegas to hear directly from medical providers, patients, and administrative staff about how federal funds allow HCHC to meet community health needs and save lives.
The visit comes two days after the Trump administration released a memo to freeze all federal grant and loan payments, and one day after they then rescinded that memo in light of the chaos it caused in Nevada and across the country. The recission in turn created more confusion that has yet to be resolved.
“Federal funding is too important to be treated like a line item on an excel sheet – it’s life or death for people in our community, and in countless other communities across the country,” Rep. Horsford said. “In attempting to freeze these investments, President Trump harmed the most vulnerable in our society, and sowed chaos for the decent and good people who help those in need.”
HCHC is one of seven federally funded health centers in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, which deliver services at 23 sites across the district, primarily in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. These facilities rely on approximately $22 million in federal investments to serve about 100,000 patients each year, creating more than 2,700 local jobs and generating nearly $450 million in economic activity as of 2021.
As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in the U.S. Congress, Horsford has used his influence to champion these funds through appropriations requests and key co-sponsorships.
“What I heard today at HCHC was fear that Trump views health and wellbeing as pawns in a political game – but what I saw from practitioners was resolve to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Rep. Horsford continued. “Nevadans understand when politics crosses the line into punishment, and we will not stand for it.”
HCHC is a member of the nonprofit organization Nevada Primary Care Association (NVPCA), which has relayed that Trump’s draconian cuts are leading to hiring freezes, furloughs, and service cuts. NVPCA has further warned that many federally qualified health centers will survive several new Trump administration policy changes, including agency review and administrative approval for policy changes.