A new public database called Lost Funds, launched by the States United Democracy Center and Grant Witness, tracks federal grant freezes and cuts. The tracker shows that since January 2021, the Trump administration has frozen or eliminated roughly $170 billion in aid to every state and Washington, D.C.
Health and nutrition programs bore the brunt. The database flags the halt of Michigan’s maternal‑health initiative, Mississippi’s education‑research grants, and Iowa’s minority‑farmer assistance. Environmental and disaster‑relief funding also fell short, leaving vulnerable communities without essential support.
States hit hardest include California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and North Carolina, each reporting the largest disruptions in the tracker. The cuts have stalled projects ranging from coastal flood defenses to school‑teacher hiring.
Legal challenges are already in motion. Several lawsuits have forced courts to order the restoration of some frozen funds, and the tracker will be updated as new rulings come in.
A 52‑year‑old Iowa farmer, who had been counting on the USDA grant, said he now faces a one‑year delay in planting. The Lost Funds tool will be refreshed monthly, and the next court hearing is slated for November 2026.