Tennessee Democrats request details on scope of Trump, DOGE funding cuts to state

Yahoo

15-04-2025

Tennessee Democrats want more information from state officials about how hard the state has been hit by ongoing Trump administration budget cuts.
Legislative Democrats requested details from Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration Jim Bryson regarding ongoing cuts, arguing lawmakers need details on the loss of federal funds as they move quickly toward a vote on next year's state budget.
"As legislators, we have a responsibility to understand the scope of these disruptions and to ensure Tennessee families do not bear the burden of federal instability," lawmakers said in the letter. Across departments — from food access to public health to healthcare — federal dollars support vital programs that keep our communities running. However, Tennesseans are now facing real consequences from program delays and cancellations."
The Tennessean reported on April 14 that state officials have been reluctant to detail the scope of federal budget cuts in Tennessee as Gov. Bill Lee has sought to align himself with President Donald Trump's agenda, including the efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to slash federal spending.
More: As DOGE cuts federal funds, Tennessee departments balk at releasing details of lost money
That federal spending very often flows into state budgets, though. In their April 14 letter, Democrats noted more than $24 billion in federal funds comprised more than 41% of the current state budget.
The letter also noted federal dollars fund a majority of the budgets for the state's departments of Human Services, Military, TennCare, Transportation and Health.
DOGE cuts last month slashed more than at least 13 state contracts totaling more than $224 million. At least some funds in the identified grants have likely already been spent.
The Tennessee Department of Health, through which the majority of the U.S. Health and Human Services grants to the state were funneled, has refused to answer repeated inquiries about how much money the state stands to lose and what public health programs the funds support.
Previous DOGE cuts canceled local farm programs that helped Tennessee schools and food banks purchase fresh, local food. Meanwhile, proposed cuts to National Institutes of Health-funded medical research prompted Tennessee leaders at research hospitals and universities to urge lawmakers to take action against the plan that would "drastically reduce" funding for vital health care research.
In the letter to Bryson, Democrats noted ongoing cuts across the state, including the cancellation of food bank assistance, certain public health prevention programs, potential TennCare impacts and energy assistance cuts.
Democrats requested the dollar amounts of reductions for eash state agency, in addition to how many state employee positions that are supported by the federal funds.
"Understanding the depth and scope of these changes is imperative, not only for budgetary accuracy but also for anticipating impacts on essential services and public trust," the letter said. "Early clarity will also aid in exploring mitigation strategies, whether through state-level reallocations or alternative funding avenues. Our goal is to understand how the state prepares for continued instability in federal funding and to ensure that Tennessee families are protected from the fallout."
A Department of Finance and Administration spokesperson did not respond to a Tennessean request for comment.
Tennessee state departments have offered similar comments to a variety of DOGE-related requests in recent weeks, stating any loss of federal funds will not affect Tennessee's ability to serve its citizens. When asked if Lee's office had directed state officials on how to refer to the cuts, or if departments should decline to provide details about which programs will be impacted, Lee's office said the governor is a "willing partner" with the Trump administration.
"President Trump was clear about his platform when he ran for office, and Americans overwhelmingly elected him to cut waste and enhance government efficiency, particularly as it relates to pandemic-era programming," Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson said. "Tennessee stands ready to be a willing partner, as the President's goals align with Gov. Lee's commitment to efficiency at the state level."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Democrats request details on scope of DOGE cuts to state