Federal Funding Freeze & ICE Raids Hit NYC | 1.29.25

Summary

Morning Wire: Federal Funding Freeze & ICE Raids Hit NYC | January 29, 2025

Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, Morning Wire delves into the latest developments shaping American politics, culture, and national security. In the January 29, 2025, episode titled "Federal Funding Freeze & ICE Raids Hit NYC," the hosts provide an in-depth analysis of President Trump's recent policy moves, judicial responses, and the ensuing political fallout.

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1. Federal Funding Freeze by the Trump Administration

A Bold Move and Immediate Judicial Response

President Trump's administration made a dramatic announcement on Tuesday, implementing a freeze on all federal grants and loans, amounting to approximately $3 trillion annually. The administration justified this action as a means to ensure that federal spending aligns with the American people's priorities, as expressed through Presidential priorities.

Key Details:

• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memo: Initiated the freeze, requiring agencies to submit detailed breakdowns of impacted programs by February 10th for review.
• Judicial Intervention: A federal judge temporarily blocked the funding freeze, particularly affecting already open grants, while leaving the legal standing of the freeze under consideration for a subsequent hearing.

Notable Quotes:

• Kristi Noem: "[This is a] temporary pause and a freeze to ensure that all of the money going out from Washington, D.C. isn't aligned with the president's agenda." ([00:03])
• John Bickley: "President Trump's attempt to freeze trillions in federal funding is foiled by a judge for now." ([00:12])
• Georgia Howe: "Why did the judge block the order? And which programs are affected?" ([00:18])
• Tim Rysey: "The memo's somewhat cloudy language made it a bit more controversial than, say, the Department of Government Efficiency or the federal hiring freeze." ([02:50])

Political Fallout:

• Democratic Response: Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, framed the freeze as a catalyst for widespread economic chaos, predicting missed payrolls, rent payments, and disruptions across universities and nonprofit sectors.
• Administration's Rebuttal: The White House, through Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, emphasized that direct federal assistance to individuals, such as Social Security and food stamps, would remain unaffected. Levitt stated, "Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits, assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause." ([03:15])

2. Executive Order Targeting Transgender Procedures for Minors

A Strategic Policy Shift

In another significant development, President Trump signed an executive order aiming to prohibit gender transition procedures for individuals under 19 years old. This move aligns with the administration's commitment to safeguard children from what it describes as "destructive and life-altering procedures."

Key Details:

• Policy Stance: The order explicitly states that the federal government will not fund, sponsor, or support gender transition procedures for minors.
• Support for State Laws: Reinforces support for state-level legislation opposing these procedures.
• Impact on Nonprofits: The order is poised to cut funding to organizations promoting transgender medical interventions for minors.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Rysey: "This order is designed to support those states that are pushing back against that industry and cut funding to anything promoting it." ([05:49])

Implications:

• Healthcare and Education Sectors: States with existing or pending legislation on transgender procedures for minors may receive increased support.
• Nonprofit Organizations: Financial constraints could impact groups advocating for transgender rights, intensifying the political and cultural debates surrounding gender identity issues.

3. Kristi Noem's Aggressive Start at Homeland Security: ICE Raids in New York City

Enforcing Immigration Laws with Vigorous Tactics

Kristi Noem, the newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary, commenced her tenure by collaborating with ICE agents on high-profile deportation raids in New York City. These operations targeted individuals accused of severe crimes, reinforcing the administration's hardline stance on illegal immigration.

Key Details:

• Raids Conducted: Arrests included individuals charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and burglary.
• Public Messaging: Secretary Noem personally released images of the arrests, while Press Secretary Caroline Levitt highlighted the violent nature of the crimes committed by those deported.

Notable Quotes:

• Kristi Noem: "If you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that." ([03:15])
• Tim Pierce (Reporting on Raids): "They busted illegal aliens with charges for murder, kidnapping, assault and burglary." ([07:10])

4. Pushback from Democratic Leaders and Sanctuary Cities

Political Tensions Intensify

The administration's aggressive immigration enforcement has sparked significant backlash from Democratic leaders of sanctuary cities. House Republicans have responded by summoning mayors of major cities to testify before Congress regarding anti-immigration enforcement policies.

Key Details:

• Targeted Mayors: Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver's Mayor Mike Johnston, and New York City's Mayor Eric Adams were called to testify.
• Mayors' Responses: Some mayors, like Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson, have equated ICE operations to acts of terrorism, arguing that such tactics disrupt community trust and safety.

Notable Quotes:

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson: "The whole point of that level of intimidation is to have that type of impact. That's what terror does. It works to disrupt the way of life." ([08:07])

Administration’s Position:

• Tim Pierce: "We cannot overrule what they do, just as they cannot overrule or step into what is within our domain." ([08:23])

Implications:

• Legislative Actions: Increased scrutiny and potential legislative measures aimed at limiting sanctuary city policies.
• Public Opinion: Heightened divisions between federal and local governments on immigration enforcement priorities.

5. Controversy Surrounding Religious Nonprofits and Immigration

Funding Scrutiny and Political Exchanges

The episode highlights a contentious exchange between Vice President JD Vance and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) over the federal funding of religious nonprofits involved in immigration services. Vance criticized the USCCB for prioritizing government funding over humanitarian concerns.

Key Details:

• Funding Dependence: Catholic Charities and similar organizations receive substantial government grants to resettle refugees and asylum seekers. For instance, Catholic Charities received nearly $2.9 billion annually in government grants as of 2010.
• Claims of Facilitating Illegal Immigration: Some studies suggest that these nonprofits indirectly aid illegal immigration by assisting individuals who have entered the U.S. unlawfully to gain legal status through asylum claims.
• Defensive Actions: Leaked videos showed Catholic Charities coaching undocumented immigrants on avoiding arrest and deportation, leading to calls for defunding by lawmakers like Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett.

Notable Quotes:

• Vice President JD Vance: "The whole point of that level of intimidation is to have that type of impact. That's what terror does." ([10:16])
• Tim Pierce: "In 2010, for example, the New York Times pegged Catholic Charities total in government grants at nearly 2.9 billion annually, which then accounted for about 62% of its annual revenue." ([12:00])

Political Implications:

• Legislation and Funding: Potential legislative actions to reduce or eliminate federal funding to religious nonprofits involved in immigration.
• Public Debate: Ongoing debate over the role of religious organizations in immigration enforcement and their reliance on government grants.

6. Escalating Violence at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Increased Hostilities and Security Warnings

The episode also addresses the rising violence along the southern border, attributed to Mexican drug cartels gaining aggressive ground against U.S. federal law enforcement agencies.

Key Details:

• Recent Incidents: A firefight between Border Patrol agents and suspected cartel members in Texas signals a potential increase in violent confrontations.
• Travel Warnings: The U.S. Consulate in Mexico issued a Level Four travel warning for Tamaulipas, citing gun battles, kidnappings, and the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
• Cartel Tactics: Reports indicate that cartels have been emboldened to engage directly with federal agents, escalating the security threat in border regions.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Pierce: "The US Consulate in Mexico on Tuesday warned Americans against traveling to the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, that's across the border from McAllen, Texas." ([09:29])

Security Implications:

• Federal Response: Potential increase in resources and strategic planning to address the heightened threat from cartels.
• Public Safety: Concerns over the safety of border communities and the effectiveness of current law enforcement strategies.

7. Upcoming Developments and Coverage

Confirmation Hearings and Live Reporting

The episode concludes by highlighting upcoming significant events, including a high-profile confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services. Morning Wire plans to provide live coverage and in-depth analysis of the hearings.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley: "We'll be having more on that tomorrow from Cabot. Meanwhile, a reminder that Daily Wire will be streaming that hearing live." ([06:04])

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Morning Wire continues to offer comprehensive coverage on critical national issues, providing listeners with insightful analysis and up-to-date information. Stay tuned for more detailed reports and expert commentary on the stories that matter most.

Transcript

[Kristi Noem]

This is a temporary pause and a freeze to ensure that all of the money going out from Washington, D.C. isn't aligned with the president's agenda.

[John Bickley]

President Trump's attempt to freeze trillions in federal funding is foiled by a judge for now.

[Georgia Howe]

Why did the judge block the order? And which programs are affected?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, January 29th, and this is Morning Wire. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem starts off her tenure with a bang and betting with ICE agents on deportation raids here.

[Tim Pierce]

In New York City this morning here getting the dirt bags off these streets.

[Georgia Howe]

And religious nonprofits come under a harsh spotlight for their assistance in illegal immigration.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wires. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Brandon]

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[Georgia Howe]

Trump shook up Washington Tuesday when his administration froze all federal financial assistance programs, though a federal judge swooped in to temporarily block the order.

[John Bickley]

Here to break down the sweeping funding freeze is Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rysey. So a rather dramatic move yesterday from Trump's new administration and then this judge's order right before it was going to be enacted. Walk us through what's going on here.

[Tim Rysey]

Yeah, John. The Office of Management and Budget released a memo freezing all federal grants and loans, which shake out to around $3 trillion a year. The memo notes that government officials have a duty to, quote, align federal spending in action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential Priorities. Agencies have until February 10th to submit a detailed breakdown of impacted programs to ombuds, which will then determine whether or not there are good use of federal funds. The quick timeline for the review and the memo's somewhat cloudy language made it a bit more controversial than, say, the Department of Government Efficiency or the federal hiring freeze. Democrats have tried to frame the freeze in the most dire possible terms. Chuck Schumer even said it will mean missed payrolls and rent payments and everything in between. Chaos for everything from universities to nonprofit charities and more.

[John Bickley]

Right. A lot of hand wringing over this from Democrats. Is that fair? Is Schumer's framing of this correct?

[Tim Rysey]

Well, the White House says no. They say that things won't be that bad and that the whole review process could take as little as a day if agencies determined their programs match the administration's priorities. And in her first briefing yesterday, White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt repeatedly made clear that direct federal assistance will not be cut off.

[Kristi Noem]

Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits, assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause. And I want to make that very clear to any Americans who are watching at home who may be a little bit confused about some of the media reporting this administration. If you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that. However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

[Tim Rysey]

This follows pretty closely from Trump's campaign promises and the policy changes he's enacted so far. And the president's talked about this before. As Russell Voight, Trump's pick to lead omb, noted during his con confirmation hearing.

[Brandon]

It is the law of the land. As you know, the president has run on that issue. He believes it's unconstitutional. For 200 years, presidents had the ability.

[John Bickley]

To spend less than an appropriation if.

[Brandon]

They could do it for less. And we have seen the extent to which this law has contributed to waste, fraud and abuse.

[John Bickley]

But now we have this order from the judge blocking the freeze for now. Where do things stand with this order at this point?

[Tim Rysey]

Well, a federal district judge blocked the freeze late Tuesday afternoon, but the order only applies to grants that are already open and doesn't say anything about the legality of the freeze. It just gives the court more time to consider it, which it's set to do in a Monday hearing and we'll.

[John Bickley]

Be sure to follow up on that then. Now, we had another major move from Trump on Tuesday that we'll be diving deeper into in the coming days. He signed an executive order on transgender procedures on minors. Tell us about that order.

[Tim Rysey]

Yeah, this was another significant move and on an issue that the Daily Wire has been very involved in investigating over the past few years. Trump's order aims to bar so called gender transitions for minors, specifically for anyone under 19 years old. The order makes clear that the federal government is against these transition procedures and that it supports state laws barring them. It reads it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist or support the so called transition of a child from one sex to another. It adds that it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life altering procedures. So a major win for those who have been fighting to protect children from these often permanent procedures. As we've documented on this show, the transgender medical industry has ballooned in recent years and become massively lucrative. This order is designed to support those states that are pushing back against that industry and cut funding to anything promoting it.

[John Bickley]

Now, before you go, we have a big confirmation hearing today. Who's on deck?

[Tim Rysey]

Right. That'll be Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. This is the first of two days of hearings scheduled for rfk and we're expecting some fireworks indeed.

[John Bickley]

And we'll be having more on that tomorrow from Cabot. Meanwhile, a reminder that Daily Wire will be streaming that hearing live. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Rysey]

You bet.

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[Georgia Howe]

Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem began her tenure as Homeland Security secretary by joining ICE agents on a raid of illegal aliens in New York City.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about Nome's start at Homeland Security Hate temp. So what can you tell us about this ICE raid in New York?

[Megan Basham]

They busted illegal aliens with charges for murder, kidnapping, assault and burglary. The secretary released images of the arrests herself. And then a few hours later, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt highlighted some of the violent criminals that ICE deportation efforts have targeted so far.

[Kristi Noem]

On January 23rd, ICE San Francisco arrested a citizen of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States who has been convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child aged 14 years or younger. ICE St Paul has arrested a citizen of Honduras who was convicted of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

[Megan Basham]

So once again, the administration is hammering the public messaging around deportations.

[John Bickley]

Right. And it's also getting some pushback now from Democratic leaders of sanctuary city jurisdictions. What can you tell us about that?

[Megan Basham]

Things are definitely heating up. House Republicans on Monday actually called the mayors of several major cities to testify in Congress next month on anti immigration enforcement policies. Letters were sent to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. But some of them don't appear to be backing down. Here's Chicago's mayor comparing ICE operations to terrorism.

[Brandon]

The whole point of that level of intimidation is to have that type of impact. That's what terror does. It works to disrupt the way of life. We literally have acts of terror that are being promulgated from the federal government.

[Megan Basham]

And here's Boston's mayor defending her sanctuary city policies.

[Tim Pierce]

What we know here at the local level is that we are not participating in the federal government's actions. We cannot overrule what they do, just as they cannot overrule or step into what is within our domain. Here at the local level and within our domain, we're very clear. In schools, in interactions with public safety officials, in community centers, we don't ask about immigration status.

[Megan Basham]

In New York City, local law enforcement actually worked with ICE on the round of raids that Secretary Noem was a part of. Adams, of course, has gotten friendlier with Trump in recent months. And so though he's a Democrat, he may turn out to be closer to Republicans on this than some of his colleagues.

[John Bickley]

Right. An interesting development there. What about the border? We've seen some concerning reports about Mexican drug cartels like we documented yesterday. What's going on there now?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, well, as we reported yesterday, there was a firefight on Monday between Border Patrol agents in Texas and suspected cartel members. We're learning now that incident may be a part of a trend of more violence along the border. The US Consulate in Mexico on Tuesday warned Americans against traveling to the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, that's across the border from McAllen, Texas. The state Department put its highest travel warning, a level four, over the area. It warned of gun battles, kidnapping, and even IEDs present in a Mexican town just over the border. And this after a couple law enforcement officials told the Washington examiner yesterday that Mexican drug cartels have been given a green light to fire at US Federal law enforcement.

[John Bickley]

Things appear to be escalating quickly along the southern border. Tim, thanks so much for joining us.

[Megan Basham]

Good to be on.

[Brandon]

I think that the U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit. And recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns or are they actually worried about their bottom line? We are going to enforce immigration law. We're going to protect the American people.

[John Bickley]

That was Vice President JD Vance firing back at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops after they released a statement condemning President Trump's immigration orders. The exchange has resulted in renewed scrutiny of how religious nonprofits facilitate illegal immigration.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with more is Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, a lot of buzz about this exchange. In particular, we had some sharp words from the vice president for the USCC right there. What sparked that exchange?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, so last Wednesday, USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio said that some of Trump's immigration orders quoting are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences. And then on Thursday, he also addressed Trump's decision to rescind a policy Biden had enacted at the end of 2021 that required ICE agents to get special permission to apprehend criminal aliens in a church, a school, a hospital, or or other areas that are deemed sensitive. The archbishop called that action contrary to the common good. So that prompted CBS has faced the nation to ask Vance on Sunday about those remarks during his first sit down interview in office. And, well, you heard his fiery response.

[Georgia Howe]

Right. So about that response, how much validity is there to Vance's claim that the USCCB is only worried about their government funding?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, you know, we can't read their hearts, of course, but there's definitely no question that Catholic Charities, which is the name of the immigration NGO affiliated with the bishops conference, has received billions in taxpayer money over the years to resettle refugees and asylum seekers. And if you look at all of the streams of funding, it can be hard to nail down a specific figure related only to immigration. But in 2010, for example, the New York Times pegged Catholic Charities total in government grants at nearly 2.9 billion annually, which then accounted for about 62% of its annual revenue. And we can also look at Protestant groups for recent figures. World Relief, for example, is the immigration NGO affiliated with the national association of Evangelicals. According to its most recent IRS filings, it received well over $126 million in 2022 alone to resettle refugees. So really a huge sum. By contrast, that same year, they only took in 33 million in private donations. So you can see that they really do rely on that government funding. Trump's immigration orders have now frozen all of that money.

[Georgia Howe]

So some people, though, will defend these groups. They're arguing that they're just facilitating legal immigration, not illegal. Is that fair to say?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, you know, it's a tricky subject first, because essentially these charities also help people who came into the US Illegally, then gain legal status by claiming asylum. And it can take years for an asylum claim to be adjudicated. So in the meantime, these groups argue that the immigrants are technically legal, even though they broke the law to enter the country, and their asylum claims are most often denied. Plus, groups like the Heritage foundation have conducted studies geofencing cell signals. And they claim that groups like Catholic Charities do appear to have helped illegal immigrants come across the border and move into the interior of the United States. And then right after that Vance interview, a video from Catholic Charities leaked. In it, one of their lawyers coaches illegal immigrants on how to avoid arrest and deportation.

[Kristi Noem]

If you are undocumented and immigration officers.

[Tim Pierce]

Come to your workplace, be aware of the following. First, do not panic and do not run away.

[John Bickley]

If you are asked where you were.

[Tim Pierce]

Born or how you entered the United States, you may simply refuse to answer or remain silent. Now, that prompted Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett to call for Catholic Charities to be defunded.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, and there is the further context that a lot of these orgs are tax exempt. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Pierce]

Anytime.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back later this afternoon with more news. You need to know.