The Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration can and must cut off federal funding to Democrat states defying the law, including by shielding illegal alien criminals.
No corrupt dictator ever stopped doing evil because he was told to do so. Unless substantial financial pressure is brought to bear, Democrat states are going to continue to defy the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, men in women’s sports, DEI in schools, and other issues. But by cutting off federal funding, not only will Republicans be saving the taxpayers money and enforcing the law, they will be attacking badly mismanaged and near-bankrupt Democrat states at their weakest point: finances.
As former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said, “Cities and states that refuse to help the Department of Homeland Security arrest illegal immigrants who are criminals should have their federal funding cut off. Americans should not be paying for state and local governments that protect illegal immigrant criminals from our own government.” It is fundamentally unjust to make us pay for the victimization and indoctrination of American citizens. Yank the federal funding and see just how defiant the lawless governors, mayors, and other officials continue to be.
Read Also: Guess How Much D.C. Dems Wasted on Streetcars They’re Now Ditching?
Congress constitutionally has the power of the purse, and our too-large federal government disburses billions of dollars through its dozens of agencies to states. Imagine if California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and the other blue states so arrogantly opposing the Trump administration were to lose their federal funding? Perhaps they’d be more willing to allow ICE to make arrests and to ban biological males from girls’ sporting events?
Take California, for instance. Despite warnings from the Trump administration, the state just allowed AB Hernandez, a boy who pretends to be a girl, walk off with two track titles meant for females in a state championship. Trump vowed repercussions: “A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so. As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!” But why not cut off the federal funding to California altogether? That’s even more effective than fines.
Related: Trump Vows 'Large Scale' Fines to CA After Biological Male Wins Girls’ Track Events
Or take Massachusetts, which, like California, is a sanctuary state. Gov. Maura Healey and especially Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have refused to cooperate with ICE over enforcing immigration law. Crowds in Massachusetts have disrupted ICE arrests, including the arrest of a dangerous murderer, and a councilwoman was just exposed for evidently assaulting federal officers in order to stop an arrest. This is entirely unacceptable, and Massachusetts should be made to feel the consequences by Trump and Congress cutting off taxpayer dollars that are going to the state via federal funds.
Councilwoman in Massachusetts blocks arrest of migrant by ICE. pic.twitter.com/Zdj8NhycEK
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) June 3, 2025
The Democrats always play hardball, even breaking the law. Republicans need to play hardball and uphold the law.