Trump's federal funding freeze leaves local farmers on the hook for expensive projects

SPOKANE, Wash. -- On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order that paused hundreds of billions of dollars worth of funding from two Biden-era bills.

Trump's 'Unleash American Energy' plan froze federal funding that provided grants for farmers and small businesses to upgrade equipment and technology.

Now, people who started these million-dollar investments are on the hook for the entire cost, even though they previously qualified for a grant that would significantly cut the cost.

David Funk is the president of Zero Emissions Northwest (ZEN) and is one of many who is frustrated and confused by the unprecedented move by the Trump Administration.

ZEN works with farmers and small business owners to help them save energy. It also helps navigate the grant process for these types of projects.

"It was quite a shock to us, but mainly to our customers," Funk said. "We've done a lot of the work, but our farmers that we support have spent millions of dollars on projects that they are expecting to get reimbursed, and these projects make their farms better. They make their farms more financially resilient."

According to Funk, his clients have $1.9 million worth of projects under construction and are collectively waiting on $250,000 in reimbursements.

Funk has had to furlough three employees because of the abrupt freeze that went into effect on January 20.

Unless a judge steps in to block the freeze, it could be April before money starts flowing again.

"I want to invest in America, and I want to invest in Americans, so let's just unfreeze this money so we can do that," Funk said.