State Rep. Donovan McKinney (D-Detroit) and Macomb County Commissioner Michael Howard III (D-Warren) joined other local activists at Warren City Hall Friday morning to address confusion surrounding the federal funding freeze announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week.

Despite the subsequent announcement two days later that the freeze was rescinded, McKinney said things are still in a state of chaos because no one is really clear on what services are affected and if the entire freeze has been rescinded or just parts of it.

This decision could block funding for infrastructure projects, disaster relief, law enforcement activities, Head Start, school lunch programs, suicide prevention hotlines, health services, and nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and WIC.

McKinney said he has been inundated with phone calls from people in the community asking questions about how the freeze will affect them.

“The chaos that our president has ensued upon us is absurd,” said McKinney. “Right now, we don’t know what is going on, hour to hour, minute to minute something else is changing.”

The White House announced the freeze Jan. 27, then rescinded it on Jan. 29 but later said the administration would still aggressively explore making cuts to federal funding.

“We are trying to figure out as a state legislator sitting on the appropriations committee where does this money stop and where does it continue to flow,” said McKinney. “Because in reality, 42% of our State of Michigan budget relies on federal funding; that is your Medicaid and Medicare programs, your free lunch programs for students, Meals on Wheels.”

Howard said he has heard from constituents who had their Medicaid portal turned off, then back on but are now tense because they are not sure if they will be turned back off again.

“Democracy is fragile, people’s lives are fragile, so we can’t be like a bull in a china shop,” Howard said. “I have had calls from non-profits including food banks saying they may have to stop their services because they just don’t know what is going to happen with funding.

“All we are asking for is clarity on how to move forward and protect our seniors, our veterans and our children.”

Michigan Families for Fair Care representatives, Mount Clemens City Commissioner Spencer Calhoun, Turnaround School specialist Jocelyn Howard, Macomb Foster Closet board member Fred Heubner and Women of Warren activist Rebecca Zainos were also in attendance to show their support.