Michael Brooks
Catholic Charities agencies across the US have been adversely affected by the federal government's funding freeze, which has impacted their ability to provide crucial services to vulnerable communities. In 2025, President Donald Trump issued a directive halting all foreign aid for a 90-day review, resulting in blocked federal funding for Catholic Charities programs, especially those serving migrants and refugees. This freeze has forced Catholic Charities agencies to lay off employees, shut down programs, and appeal to donors to maintain operations. The Trump administration's decision has been criticized as threatening the vital support provided by Catholic Charities for over a century, including food, housing, healthcare, and other basic needs for struggling Americans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the federal funding freeze | 27 February 2025 |
| Who enacted the freeze? | President Donald Trump |
| Who is affected? | Catholic Charities agencies across the U.S. |
| What is the impact? | Layoffs, program closures, and a reduction in services |
| What services are affected? | Food pantries, childcare programs, meal deliveries, job training, housing, mental health services, emergency assistance, rental assistance, etc. |
| What is the reason for the freeze? | A 90-day review of foreign aid |
| What is the response from Catholic Charities? | An "urgent call for support" and a request for the administration to reconsider |
| What is the response from the courts? | A federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze on federal grants and loans |
| What is the impact on Texans? | Cutbacks from the government shutdown threaten vulnerable Texans |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholic Charities agencies forced to lay off employees and shut down programs
- Catholic Charities agencies in Florida, Texas, and Kansas impacted
- Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas issues an 'urgent call for support'
- Trump's funding freeze affects migrant and refugee service programs
- Catholic Charities USA urges the Trump administration to reconsider
Catholic Charities agencies forced to lay off employees and shut down programs
Catholic Charities agencies across the United States have been forced to lay off employees and shut down programs as a result of the federal aid funding freeze enacted by the Trump administration. The freeze has blocked federal funding for Catholic Charities programs, affecting migrant and refugee service programs in particular.
In response to the administration's order, Catholic Charities USA urged the Trump administration to reconsider the freeze, highlighting the crucial care that millions of Americans rely on through the organization's programs. The group also urged its supporters to contact their congressional representatives.
Local agencies, such as Catholic Charities Dallas, have been forced to lay off staff and scale back operations. The Dallas program, which serves documented migrants, was almost entirely funded by the State Department. Similarly, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, California, commented on the impact of the funding freeze on its services for legal immigrants, including citizenship classes.
The freeze on federal funding has also impacted Catholic Charities' ability to provide basic needs such as access to food, housing, and health care for families and individuals struggling to get by. The Catholic Charities network has a long history of working with the government to care for vulnerable people in communities across the U.S. and has expressed its willingness to continue this collaboration.
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Catholic Charities agencies in Florida, Texas, and Kansas impacted
Catholic Charities agencies in Florida, Texas, and Kansas have been impacted by the federal government's funding freeze. Since President Donald Trump issued a directive halting all foreign aid for a 90-day review, federal funding has been blocked for Catholic Charities programs across the U.S., notably affecting migrant and refugee service programs.
Catholic Charities Jacksonville in Florida laid off 26 employees from its refugee program after the funding freeze prevented the agency from receiving over $600,000 in reimbursement for services already provided in November. The agency's chief executive officer, Anita Hassell, stated that employees were let go without severance following the executive order. The agency is now appealing to donors to compensate for the funding freeze.
In Texas, Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle indefinitely suspended its Refugee Resettlement Program, a decision made "with a heavy heart." The organization stated that it had proudly helped resettle refugees legally authorized to settle in the U.S. since the mid-1970s.
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas issued an "urgent call for support" as the federal government blocked reimbursements for its migrant relief program, resulting in an agency-wide financial crisis. Executive Director Debbie Snapp expressed disappointment in the situation, stating that the freezing of crucial funds poses a critical threat to their ability to continue serving those in need. The agency had expected to receive close to $500,000 in reimbursements for December and January.
The funding freeze has impacted both program-specific and agency-wide efforts, forcing Catholic Charities agencies to lay off employees, scale back operations, and suspend vital programs serving vulnerable communities.
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Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas issues an 'urgent call for support'
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas Issues an Urgent Call for Support
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas has issued an urgent call for support following a federal funding freeze enacted by the Trump administration. The freeze has blocked reimbursements for its migrant relief program, causing an agency-wide financial crisis.
The Impact of the Funding Freeze
The funding freeze has had a significant impact on the operations of Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas. Executive Director Debbie Snapp stated that the freeze poses a "critical threat" to their ability to continue serving those in need. The agency has had to make difficult decisions, such as suspending its Refugee Resettlement Program and laying off employees.
Services Provided by Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas has been providing essential services to the community since 1965. With offices in Dodge City, Garden City, and Great Bend, they serve 28 counties in southwest Kansas. Their services include:
- Emergency assistance with rent and utility bills
- Job assistance and English language classes for migrants
- Counseling for individuals and families
- Pregnancy and infant adoption support
- Financial literacy education
Call to Action
In light of the funding freeze, Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas is appealing to donors and foundations for direct financial assistance. They are also urging supporters to contact their Congressional representatives to advocate for the reconsideration of the freeze.
The organization expresses gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received during difficult times, emphasizing that the compassion and generosity of the community enable them to continue their mission of serving those in need.
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Trump's funding freeze affects migrant and refugee service programs
In 2025, a funding freeze enacted by the Trump administration affected Catholic Charities agencies across the United States. The freeze was part of an effort to enforce immigration policies and affected federal funding for Catholic Charities programs, particularly those serving migrants and refugees.
The impact of the funding freeze was significant, with agencies in Florida, Texas, and Kansas speaking out about the effects on their program-specific and agency-wide efforts. Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, for example, issued an "urgent call for support" as the freeze resulted in an agency-wide financial crisis. The freeze also led to layoffs and the scaling back of operations, with agencies struggling to provide essential services such as emergency assistance, rental assistance, and utility bill payments.
The Catholic Charities network has a long history of working with the government to care for vulnerable communities, including migrants and refugees. The freeze on federal aid threatened to disrupt vital services such as food pantries, childcare programs, meal deliveries for seniors, job training, and mental health services.
In response to the funding freeze, Catholic Charities USA and its supporters urged the administration to reconsider, highlighting the potential harm to millions of Americans relying on their support. A lawsuit was also filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) on behalf of refugee-serving agencies and impacted individuals, challenging the suspension of the refugee resettlement program and the freeze on refugee funding.
The funding freeze had immediate and far-reaching consequences, affecting the lives of vulnerable individuals and families who depended on the crucial services provided by Catholic Charities and other refugee-serving organizations.
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Catholic Charities USA urges the Trump administration to reconsider
Catholic Charities USA has urged the Trump administration to reconsider its pause on federal funding for executive departments, highlighting the negative impact on millions of Americans who rely on their support. In a statement, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, Kerry Alys Robinson, emphasised that 92% of the services provided by their 168 independent agencies across the country covered basic needs, including access to food, housing, healthcare, and other necessities.
Robinson's statement underscored the potential harm to Americans from all walks of life, emphasising that those who would lose access to crucial care include neighbours and family members, regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation. She also noted that Catholic Charities agencies have a long history of working with the government to care for the poor and vulnerable, expressing their willingness to continue this collaboration.
The funding freeze has forced local Catholic Charities agencies to lay off employees and scale back or suspend vital programs, including those supporting migrants and refugees. Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, for example, issued an "urgent call for support" after the federal government blocked reimbursements for its migrant relief program, resulting in a financial crisis. Similarly, Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle made the difficult decision to indefinitely suspend its Refugee Resettlement Program.
Catholic Charities USA has actively advocated for the rights and well-being of those they serve, urging the administration to reconsider and demonstrating their commitment to providing life-giving support to those in need. The organisation has also encouraged supporters to contact their congressional representatives and make donations or volunteer to support their local Catholic Charities agencies.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Charities agencies across the US have been affected by the federal aid funding freeze. This has resulted in employee layoffs and the shutdown of programs, including refugee resettlement.
Catholic Charities provides vital services such as food pantries, childcare programs, meal deliveries for seniors, job training, housing, and mental health services.
The funding freeze has blocked reimbursements and federal grants, causing financial crises for local agencies. This has affected their ability to provide emergency assistance, rental assistance, and utility bill payments.
Catholic Charities USA has urged the administration to reconsider, stating that the freeze will cut off access to food, housing, and healthcare for vulnerable families. They have also appealed to donors and foundations for direct assistance.
Yes, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked the freeze on January 28, granting a win to advocacy groups. However, the ruling did not prevent the administration from freezing funding to new programs.
