The fight against budget cuts in Pennsylvania

During the first week of April, an impassioned legal battle ensued between the Pennsylvania government, spearheaded by Governor Josh Shapiro, and the federal government, which has since rocked the state. 

Not content with the impending detrimental effects of the Trump administration’s budget cuts, Shapiro accused the government of illegally withholding funds initially promised to aid schools during the covid-19 pandemic. This was a sum of $500 million that, theoretically, would’ve gone toward funding schools still devastated by the pandemic’s impacts. 

This, alongside Shapiro’s ongoing legal endeavor to unfreeze billions of dollars of federal funds to Pennsylvania, demonstrates two things. One, the extent to which the Trump administration’s process of curbing government inefficiency and spending has affected institutions across Pennsylvania. And two, the extent to which the state government will fight back and what it means for the individuals involved. 

Many initiatives and ordinances established by the Trump administration to decrease the presence of the federal government have been targeted at education. This ranges from the threatening tactic of cutting federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania — over concerns of transgender athletes participating in college sports — to the gradual dismantling of the Department of Education, leading to anxiety about the economic standings of Pennsylvania public schools. 

However, federal budget cuts have also added to the general unease of other Pennsylvanian industries and institutions. Healthcare, agriculture and mass transit are theorized to take — and have already taken —  considerable hits from instituted budget cuts and increased tariffs. 

The list of industries and institutions seemingly on the cutting block of funding hasn’t been completely disregarded, though. Shapiro and other political representatives throughout the state have recognized the Trump administration’s highly contentious actions and are fighting back through the courts. 

Whether these resistive lawsuits will inevitably lead to the effective repudiation of Trump’s administrative itinerary is still to be seen. Regardless, the consequences of these budget cuts should be recognized for what they truly are, and state governments should be acknowledged for their role in preventing such sudden and inexcusable defunding measures that ultimately hurt the people.