'No more payments': Trump announces halt of federal funding to Dem-controlled cities

President Donald Trump made the stunning announcement Wednesday that he would halt all federal funding to what he called “sanctuary cities,” cities like New York City, New York, often criticized by Republicans for not adequately cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, and all controlled by Democratic leaders.

“EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY FIRST, NO MORE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STATES FOR THEIR CORRUPT CRIMINAL PROTECTION CENTERS KNOWN AS SANCTUARY CITIES,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

“ALL THEY DO IS BREED CRIME AND VIOLENCE! If States want them, they will have to pay for them! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

Trump’s Justice Department published a list in August of cities they consider to be “sanctuary cities,” a list of 18 cities all with Democratic leaders. Cities include Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois.

Cities across the nation receive federal funding for things like public safety, transportation and infrastructure, housing, health services, education and disaster relief, among many other categories. However, the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policy, which has seen the deployment of federal agents and the National Guard to Democrat-led cities, has been met with fierce resistance.