Sangamon Sun

Rep. Nikki Budzinski, representing Illinois' 13th District in the U.S. Congress since 2023, has taken to social media to express concerns over recent federal decisions affecting her district. Her tweets highlight issues related to paused federal funding and its impact on local projects and services.

On January 28, 2025, Rep. Budzinski shared that she had joined a letter to the new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director seeking "clarity and a detailed list of projects being paused." She emphasized her proactive approach by stating, "I’m also in touch with local governments in the district to see what outreach they have received since this announcement." The congresswoman stressed the need for answers regarding these developments.

In another tweet posted on the same day, Rep. Budzinski addressed specific projects potentially affected by the funding pause. She mentioned that "Projects such as the Springfield Rail Improvement Project, Florida Avenue reconstruction in Urbana, and the Bradley Avenue grade separation in Champaign were all set to receive funding." The sudden uncertainty surrounding these initiatives has left stakeholders with more questions than answers.

Later that day, Rep. Budzinski criticized actions taken by former President Trump within a week of taking office. According to her tweet from January 28, "Trump has gone after our federal workforce & paused federal funding that could impact healthcare, school lunches and countless projects in our district." She invited constituents from Illinois' 13th District who have been impacted by these orders to share their stories with her.