Vermont Lawmakers Demand Release of Delayed Anti-Poverty Funds

Congressional delegation criticizes Trump administration for holding up Community Service Block Grant payments

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A warm, nostalgic painting of a government office building or community center, with the structure bathed in soft, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the impact of delayed anti-poverty funding on local communities.The delay in federal anti-poverty funds casts a shadow over the critical community services they support.Burlington Today

Vermont's congressional delegation is calling on the Trump administration to immediately release over $3 million in delayed federal Community Service Block Grant funds that support critical anti-poverty programs in the state. The unusual monthslong delay in delivering the annual grant money has disrupted services provided by Vermont's Community Action agencies, which rely on the flexible funding to address housing, food, and fuel assistance needs.

Why it matters

The Community Service Block Grant is a vital source of funding for Vermont's anti-poverty programs, providing operational support and flexibility that other federal grants do not. Delays or a potential elimination of the program, as proposed in the White House budget, would severely impact the ability of local organizations to respond to the needs of the state's most vulnerable residents.

The details

The Vermont congressional delegation, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint, sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding the immediate release of the delayed grant funds. Normally delivered in multiple payments throughout the year, over $3 million of the roughly $4 million in annual CSBG support for Vermont is still outstanding for the current fiscal year. State officials say the delay has forced them to float funds to keep programs running, and they may have to decrease or freeze grant money if the federal funds don't arrive soon.

  • The CSBG funds are typically delivered in multiple payments each year.
  • Vermont is still waiting on over $3 million in CSBG funds for the fiscal year ending in September 2026.

The players

Bernie Sanders

U.S. Senator from Vermont and member of the congressional delegation that sent the letter demanding the release of the delayed CSBG funds.

Peter Welch

U.S. Senator from Vermont and member of the congressional delegation that sent the letter demanding the release of the delayed CSBG funds.

Becca Balint

U.S. Representative from Vermont and member of the congressional delegation that sent the letter demanding the release of the delayed CSBG funds.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Health and Human Services Secretary, the recipient of the letter from Vermont's congressional delegation demanding the release of the delayed CSBG funds.

Lily Sojourner

Head of the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, which oversees the distribution of CSBG funds in the state.

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What they’re saying

“We write to express our strong opposition to the illegal and unconstitutional decision by the Trump Administration to delay over $810 million in funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program.”

— Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, Becca Balint, Vermont Congressional Delegation

“These programs are literally a matter of life and death for some of the most vulnerable people in America. Under our Constitution, you do not have the right to determine which laws you will follow and which laws you will ignore.”

— Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, Becca Balint, Vermont Congressional Delegation

“We see it as a critical piece of the infrastructure in Vermont to respond to community needs.”

— Lily Sojourner, Head of Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity

What’s next

Vermont's congressional delegation is demanding the Trump administration immediately release the delayed CSBG funds. If the funds are not delivered soon, state officials say they may have to decrease or freeze grant money to local anti-poverty programs.

The takeaway

The delay in federal anti-poverty funding highlights the vulnerability of critical social services programs to political shifts in Washington. Vermont's experience underscores the importance of flexible, reliable funding streams to support local organizations addressing housing, food, and other basic needs in communities.