Michigan Legislative Black Caucus condemns GOP funding cancellations as creating ‘culture of chaos’

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) speaks at a press conference condemning funding cancellations by House Republicans. Dec. 16, 2025. | Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance.

Legislators from both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate called the decision by House GOP leadership to cancel around $645 million in spending a disgrace, as state Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) said in a press conference on Tuesday morning. 

“We can do better than this as Americans and as the state of Michigan. We can do a lot better than these decisions that were already pre-approved for the citizens of this great state,” O’Neal, the chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, said.

State Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) took the chance to flip language often used by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) on its head, that the cuts were intended to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse” in government spending. 

“I think that is very important for everyone to understand, to pull that funding midstream without warning is not just unacceptable. It is the very definition of waste, fraud and abuse, because it throws away taxpayer dollars and the real work that was already underway,” Grant said. “When House Republicans disapproved these projects, they didn’t just cut line items. They broke promises and they cut lifelines for the people that we serve.”

State Rep. Mai. Xiong (D-Warren), the Asian Pacific American Caucus co-chair, similarly disputed narratives from Republican legislators about the decision being made to promote fiscal responsibility.

“While House Republicans may be proud that they are saving the state money by clawing back $645 million, that is simply not true,” she said. “This does not make your taxes go down. This does not put money back into your pockets. This money is going back into the general fund, and all of us will have to continue to pay taxes, because that is the law.”

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) also promised action to attempt to restore funding that had been cancelled in last week’s decision. 

“Last week’s action came after our people, came after our communities. Enough is enough,” she said. “Just know that we will use every tool in our toolbox, in the state Senate, our Democratic colleagues in the House, working alongside our governor, to restore these critical funds.”

Legislators also criticized the disproportionate impact of funding cuts on Black communities and residents, including key projects to reduce crime and promote educational outcomes in Detroit, as Detroit Caucus Chair State Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit) said.

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“It’s so unfortunate because it has caused distress in our communities that was not necessary,” she said, adding that the confusion around exactly which projects were affected by the funding disapprovals was creating a “culture of chaos.” 

“We’re going to continue to dig down deep and to see exactly what’s been impacted,” Young said. “We stand united, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet later on Tuesday to discuss the work projects. However, Anthony said that the committee would not cancel any further funding —and the deadline to do so has also passed — and that the focus would be on allowing testimony from affected grantees. 

“We would never weaponize the Senate Appropriations Committee for retaliation,” Anthony said. “That type of environment that is being created by the House Republicans has not translated to the Senate Democrats.”