Former Pennsylvania Representative Charlie Dent isn’t holding back when it comes to President Donald Trump’s latest executive action. On Tuesday, Dent took to CNN to share his sharp criticism of Trump’s attempt to freeze federal grant funding, warning that the move could spell serious trouble for the administration.
Dent didn’t mince words: “The executive branch has very little authority to impound money or even freeze it on a temporary basis,” he said. “So, I think that the Trump administration is in trouble.”
Déjà vu from the travel ban days?
Dent likened this funding freeze to Trump’s controversial travel ban during his first term, recalling the chaos it sparked at airports. “This reminds me of the travel ban from Trump one,” Dent said. “They issued an executive order, created mayhem at the airports, and it took a while to sort it all out.”
The same confusion, he explained, seems to be unfolding now. The funding freeze, temporarily blocked by a federal judge, has left lawyers buzzing with activity. Dent described it with a touch of humor: “I’m sure there are lawyers in Washington just salivating right now because everybody’s calling their lawyers, and there are going to be lawsuits flying every which way.”
Questions everywhere. Answers? Not so much
A big problem with the order, according to Dent, is its ambiguity. Who’s affected? Who’s exempt? No one seems to know. “We’re not sure how pervasive this pause is, but it’s wreaking havoc,” he said.
So, what now?
Dent believes the judge’s intervention helped reduce some of the immediate confusion, but he also pointed to the Constitution to make his case: “Congress’s authority here is clear,” he said. “This is an article one authority. The president cannot impound funds.”
With Congress holding the power of the purse, Dent made it clear that the administration’s move is treading on shaky legal ground—and sparking chaos along the way.
