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Fact check: Has any president successfully cut off federal funding to an entire state before?

Checked on June 7, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is no clear historical precedent of a president successfully cutting off all federal funding to an entire state. While presidents have made numerous attempts to reduce federal spending through various mechanisms, none of the sources indicate a complete defunding of a state has ever occurred. The most recent relevant example involves the Trump administration's attempts to block approximately $425+ billion in federal funding across multiple programs [1], but this was not targeted at a single state nor was it a complete funding cutoff.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points emerge from the analyses:

  • Presidents have historically used rescission powers to attempt to reduce federal spending, with 1,178 proposals submitted between 1974-2000, of which 461 were approved by Congress [2]
  • Ronald Reagan was particularly active in this area, submitting 602 proposals totaling $43 billion [2]
  • The process of reducing federal funding is complex and typically requires Congressional approval - it's not a unilateral presidential power [2]
  • Recent attempts to control federal funding have focused on specific programs or agencies rather than entire states [1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains some problematic assumptions:

  • It implies that presidents have the unilateral power to cut off all federal funding to a state, which oversimplifies the complex relationship between federal and state funding mechanisms
  • The concept of completely cutting off federal funding to a state overlooks the various independent funding streams and constitutional obligations that exist between the federal government and states
  • The question may be influenced by recent political rhetoric about federal funding control, particularly in the context of the Trump administration's attempts to reshape federal agencies and control spending [3]
  • Discussions about federal funding cuts often intersect with broader political narratives about government efficiency and reform, as evidenced by proposals like Trump's Department of Government Efficiency [4]
Want to dive deeper?
What constitutional powers does the president have to withhold federal funding from states?
Has Congress ever voted to cut off all federal funding to a specific state?
What happened when President Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities?
Can the federal government legally stop all funding to a state that refuses to comply with federal mandates?
What are the historical examples of federal-state funding disputes in American politics?