A project designed to reconnect parts of New Haven harmed by past transit infrastructure decisions was awarded a $2 million federal grant. There are concerns it is one of many federal grants and loans at risk of losing the funding after President Donald Trump attempted to order a federal funding freeze at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
A federal judge issued a stay Tuesday evening, temporarily blocking the action by the president until Monday.
Prior to the federal judge's action, Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s office said the program to reconnect New Haven neighborhoods would be affected by the federal funding freeze.
Blumenthal issued a statement sharply criticizing the order.
“As currently framed, it seems legally unsustainable,” Blumenthal said. “No President can simply stop programs properly funded by Congress. I will fight to reverse this reckless, lawless harmful dictatorial order.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program awarded $2 million to New Haven as part of the I-91 Neighborhood Reconnection Initiative.
The goal of the project is to alleviate the harms, from divided communities, to pedestrian hazards, caused by the construction of Interstate 91, long felt by people of color.
New Haven residents have complained about the highway’s effects, including the division of the city’s Wooster Square neighborhood, to the increased difficulty in safely navigating the city.
Local and federal officials say the project could include building barriers to protect pedestrians, creating pedestrian walkways and increasing affordable housing.
The federal funding for the project was announced before President Donald Trump took office. But Trump’s recent attempt to impose a funding freeze for all federal grants and loans now puts the project at risk.
Local officials say if federal funding falls through they are confident they can come up with additional sources of funding for a plan they say would make the areas by the highway more livable for residents.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement he would take the federal government to court over the order.
“This is a full assault on Connecticut families — an unprecedented and blatantly lawless and unconstitutional attack on every corner and level of our government and economy. Attorneys general across the country are preparing imminent legal action to protect our states,” Tong said.
During a Monday event announcing the project in New Haven, Caroline Tanbee Smith, a city alder representing Ward 9, said there could be other funding resources for the RCP.
“I think we can come up with a plan that can draw and attract resources, whether from the federal government or from philanthropic sources,” Tanbee Smith said.
The RCP is also designed to unite several separate projects in the area such as The Long Wharf Responsible Growth Plan, and Mill River: “Imagine Next.”
The city of New Haven could face other additional hurdles.
The White House recently eliminated the Justice 40 Initiative created by former President Joe Biden. The executive order, mandated at least 40 percent of some federal investments, benefit disadvantaged communities, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Michael Piscatelli, New Haven Economic Development Administrator, said any environmentally damaged areas by I-91 could be assessed by the state now that the initiative has been eliminated.
“We would likely follow Connecticut state law in order to do the assessments and figure out a way to get that back into productive use,” Piscatelli said.
Much of that funding comes from the federal government. While speaking at the event Monday announcing the $2 million in federal funding for the RCP, well before Trump’s funding freeze was ordered, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, acknowledged Trump could attempt to interfere with the disbursement of federal funds.
“He is of the view that he has the constitutional authority; he does not, and it has been deliberated at the Department of Justice, at the General Accounting Office, and actually Chief Justice Scalia said that there is no basis for this view that he has his constitutional authority to take money and move it,” DeLauro said. The power of the purse resides in the Congress and with the Appropriations Committee.”
