The Weekly Wrap: The Federal Funding Rollercoaster Continues

Welcome back to The Weekly Wrap, our Friday roundup of stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions that bring us closer to economic, environmental and social justice. If you enjoy this newsletter, share it with a friend or colleague and tell them to subscribe.

By the way – we’re currently hiring an Equitable Cities Reporting Fellow in Central Kentucky. Apply or share with your networks!

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Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze Has Been Halted, Again

A federal judge has extended a temporary block on the White House’s attempt to freeze payments for federal grants and other congressionally-approved programs, in a preliminary injunction on the lawsuit filed by a group of Democratic states.

But much of the funding remains trapped in limbo. Politico reports at least five groups awarded billions from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund cannot access the Citibank accounts containing the grant funds, and have not received any explanation from the bank or EPA. One recipient cannot make payroll and will begin defaulting on contracts by Friday; others expect bankruptcies and defaults if the funds are not released soon.

Sweeping Tariffs Enacted – Then Partly Rolled Back

President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, as did an increase on tariffs for Chinese goods. Two days later, Trump walked back some of these tariffs, delaying for nearly one month tariffs on all products that are covered by the USMCA free trade treaty and granting a one-month exemption for carmakers.

Regardless, as a widespread “Buy Canadian” movement takes hold up north, Canada immediately retaliated with 25% tariffs on over $20 billion worth of U.S. imports, including wine, beer, coffee, peanut butter and appliances, with a promise of more to come. The province of Ontario is also set to impose a 25% tariff on power to three U.S. states, which would affect 1.5 million homes in Minnesota, Michigan and New York.

How will this effect housing development? Our friends at Shelterforce report that market-rate developers see economic opportunity, but affordable housing developers are predicting “wide-spread bankruptcies.” Keep an eye out for additional analysis from Next City.

‘Sanctuary City’ Mayors Defend Policies As Safe and Legal

In a six-hour congressional hearing this week on so-called “sanctuary city” policies, the mayors of New York, Boston, Chicago and Denver defended their cities’ policies – which limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration agents — against Republican attacks.

The Associated Press reports that Republicans in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform accused the mayors of endangering Americans and obstructing Trump’s deportation efforts, and threatened to prosecute local officials for alleged federal law violations. The mayors accused congressional officials of “fear-mongering” despite data showing crime is declining in these cities and repeated court verdicts supporting the legality of sanctuary policies.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Trump administration is considering whether to revoke temporary legal status for about 240,000 Ukrainians who fled after Russia’s invasion.

Corporations Are Making Billions By Suing Over Green Laws

An investigation by the Guardian shows that fossil fuel and mining companies have won at least $92 billion by suing foreign governments over environmental regulations that lessen their profits.

Most of these cases were brought by corporations in wealthy countries against developing countries, under an international legal mechanism known as investor-state dispute settlements. But the Guardian also finds that hedge funds and other third-party investors have made millions by financing these lawsuits in exchange for part of the payout, with half of all third-party funded cases being launched by investors from America, Britain or Canada.

One California City Is Setting Up an Immigrant Aid Fund

With calls to one local immigration legal aid hotline jumping by 330% in the last month, the city of Richmond, California has agreed to set up a $1 million fund to aid its most vulnerable residents in response to federal crackdowns on undocumented immigrants.

Richmondside reports that city council unanimously voted this week to reallocate part of the city’s $13 million 2024-25 fiscal year surplus funds to several organizations that provide legal resources and services to immigrants.

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MORE NEWS

• L.A. County sues Southern California Edison over Eaton fire. L.A. Times

• How Trump’s radical remaking of environmental review process could reshape transportation. Streetsblog USA

• World Bank estimates $11 billion needed for reconstruction of Lebanon. AP News

• The looting of America’s affordable housing fund. Lever News

• All the ways Trump wants to exclude trans people from public life. The 19th

• San Diego Council begins rolling back ADU policy that allowed backyard apartment buildings. Axios

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

• The Government of Canada has re-opened its Affordable Housing Innovation Fund portal for proposals that address barriers to innovative homebuilding, particularly using scalable modular and prefabricated building solutions. Submit a proposal.

• The Mellon Foundation is offering general operating support for community-based archives in the U.S. and its territories. Apply by March 12.

• The Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are funding efforts to collect, analyze and use data through their Local Data for Equitable Communities grant program. (Disclosure: RWJF currently funds Next City.) Submit a proposal by March 18.

• Open Architecture Collaborative is leading a 10-week online course on community building practices, community engagement strategies and more. Apply by March 18.

• The USC Annenberg Innovation Lab is looking for artists, creators, innovators, organizers, strategists and others working at the intersections of media, technology and culture for its Civic Media Fellowship. Apply by March 28.

• Smart Growth America has launched a free technical assistance program for community organizations interested in advancing equitable zoning and land use decisions to help decrease health inequities. Apply by March 31.

• The Rx Foundation has launched a new funding cycle for its Building Capacity for Health Advocacy grants. Submit a letter of interest by March 31.

• Fulbright New Zealand’s Ian Axford Fellowships in Public Policy program is accepting applications to help increase mutual understanding between America and New Zealand. Apply by April 22.

• The Livable Communities Initiative, Arnold Ventures and partners have launched a National Single-Stair Competition. Submit your design by June 30.

• Check out Next City’s jobs board for new opportunities.

EVENTS

• March 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern: The Urban Institute is hosting a panel on the impacts of proposed legislation to cut federal funding for Medicaid by up to $880 billion.

• March 18 at 1 p.m Eastern: The Urban Institute is hosting a discussion on releasing government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship through administrative action.

• March 20 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific: The UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative is holding a webinar on California’s most comprehensive study of homelessness and the connection between behavioral health and homelessness.

• March 25: Next City is hosting a conversation between Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, former NEA Chair, and Jason Schupbach, Dean of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. They’ll discuss how the arts can and should shape urban policy and planning.