Massachusetts Governor Healey announces Trump Administration has cut $350 million in funding so far, to implement hiring freeze across Executive Branch

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today posted a new public dashboard, mass.gov/fedimpact, displaying the total amount of funding that the Trump Administration has cut to state agencies in Massachusetts.  

So far, $350 million in direct funding to the state has been cut, including funding for disaster prevention aid, school mental health services, tutoring, school security and building upgrades, healthy food for babies and students, respiratory illness prevention and treatment, community health centers, public health workers, substance use disorder treatment, increased broadband access and more.  

In addition to direct funding cuts, the Trump Administration has delayed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding distributions, including for key public health programs serving communities across the state. Similarly, the Trump Administration’s harmful impacts to Massachusetts extend beyond the federal dollars provided directly to the state. Hundreds of millions of federal dollars for federal programs, federal jobs, and NIH research also have been cut, or are proposed to be cut, with a direct impact on Massachusetts residents and the economy. 

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently canceled critical shipments of food to local food banks. These cuts continue while Congress contemplates even bigger funding reductions that could directly impact hundreds of millions of dollars to the state through Medicaid cuts, reductions in the SNAP program, and additional changes to housing, education and transportation policy. 

“President Trump’s cuts to federal funding are having a terrible impact on Massachusetts and states across the country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The federal cuts outlined in this dashboard are more than just numbers – they represent cuts to healthy food for babies, mental health care for students, and disaster prevention for our communities. President Trump’s and DOGE’s cuts to federal programs, veterans’ services, and NIH funding all have a direct impact on our people and our economy. As Governor, I’m focused on continuing to deliver for our residents every day.” 

“The reporting form in this dashboard will be a helpful tool for cities and towns, businesses and non-profits to let us know how they are being impacted by President Trump’s funding cuts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration is here to be a partner for everyone in the state who is being hurt by the actions of the federal government, and having all of this information in a centralized place will help bolster our response.” 

Massachusetts receives a total of $22.9 billion in federal funding each year, including $16.1 billion in the annual operating budget, $5.3 billion in grants to state agencies and $1.5 billion in grants for capital projects.  

The dashboard also includes a reporting form for cities, towns, nonprofit organizations and businesses to notify the administration of funding cuts. Additionally, Governor Healey has directed Quentin Palfrey of the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office to monitor federal funding cuts to organizations, municipalities and other entities and ensure real time communication and information sharing.  

The dashboard will be updated regularly. 

Today, Governor Healey also announced that she would be implementing a hiring freeze across the Executive Branch in response to widespread economic uncertainty at the national level and a tightening budget outlook for Fiscal Year 2026. 

The hiring freeze, which will take effect May 27, is a proactive step being taken by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to manage spending as the state prepares for the start of the new fiscal year. With further anticipated federal funding cuts and spending pressures created by ongoing inflation and demand for services, hiring controls are one tool the administration plans to use to ensure the state can continue to invest in essential services and safety net programs for people and families. 

“The people of Massachusetts expect us to protect and maximize their tax dollars, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Governor Healey. “Tariffs and funding cuts from Washington are causing so much economic damage and instability. We are taking this step to prepare for more uncertain economic times, protect taxpayer dollars, and move our state forward while ensuring funding will be available for the vital services people need.”  

“Challenging fiscal times require tough choices at all levels of government. I know this firsthand from my time as a mayor and now Lieutenant Governor,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It’s also important to be prepared when you see clouds gathering. Our administration deeply appreciates the work our public employees perform on a daily basis, and while we don’t take this step lightly, we believe it’s necessary to ensure we can all continue that critical work moving forward.” 

“As we navigate the close of FY25 and prepare for the start of the new fiscal year in July, the Governor’s action to implement a hiring freeze across the executive branch will give us added flexibility in the budget to respond and react to unforeseen program needs and other deficiencies that may arise. Our uncertain economic future in FY26 has been made less predictable by the threat of federal funding cuts and recent market upheaval. While we hope for the best, it is both prudent and responsible to be prepared and take control of what we can now,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. 

The hiring controls will apply to all Executive Branch agencies and departments. While in effect, agencies and departments will not be able to hire new employees and there will be no formal waiver process. Consistent with common practice during past hiring freezes, exemptions will be made for certain positions, including public safety officers and direct care providers. 

The administration will reevaluate the effectiveness and need for ongoing hiring controls once the FY26 General Appropriations Act has been signed and implementation is underway.