Lawmakers Huddle: Democrats say loss of federal grants is hurting Georgia families

Caption

State Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross), shown here as a guest on GPB's Lawmakers in Feb. 2025, talks with host Donna Lowry about Georgia programs losing federal grants.

Credit: GPB

Cuts in federal grants have left some Georgia agencies struggling to maintain critical programs in areas such as health, employment, and public safety. In this week's Lawmakers Huddle, GPB's Donna Lowry discusses the cuts with two Democratic state legislators working to highlight the human impact of these losses on the state's most vulnerable communities. 

 

TRANSCRIPT: 

Donna Lowry: Joining me are Rep. Marvin Lim of Norcross and Rep. Karen Lupton of Chamblee. Welcome to Lawmakers Huddle. 

Karen Lupton: Thank you so much for having us. Donna.  

Marvin Lim: Always very happy to talk to you.  

Donna Lowry: Well, I know grant funding is a topic you both feel passionate about. You united to host three press conferences called "Grant Cuts Hurt!" — with an exclamation point! So, let's start with that background. Rep. Lupton, can you offer an overall view of the part grant funding plays in the lives of Georgians? Explain the whole grant ecosystem.  

Karen Lupton: I don't know if I can explain the whole grant system, but I think Georgians would be very surprised to learn just how many areas are reached by federal funds. The press conferences that Rep. Lim and I put on, we brought in people doing all kinds of work, research, teaching, helping victims of crime.  

When we have money in our state coming back to us from the federal level, that is our money. This is not money that the federal government creates. This is our tax money coming back to us in the form of federal dollars.  

Donna Lowry: Is there any way of determining how many Georgians have lost jobs because of cuts in grant funding?  

Marvin Lim: What we do know is that approximately $2.1 billion of federal grant funds have been cut in Georgia. That's to nonprofits, some for-profits, and also state agencies, including our public institutions of higher education 

Caption

State Rep. Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee), shown here as a guest on GPB's Lawmakers in Feb. 2025, talks with host Donna Lowry about Georgia programs losing federal grants.

Credit: GPB

Donna Lowry: Rep. Lim, in February, you came on Lawmakers to talk about cuts that affect you personally 

Marvin Lim: I have a nonprofit called Lucky Shoals Community Association. We receive a variety of federal grants all for the community I serve. I actually started this nonprofit after being in office because I was so frustrated at the pace of government. 

When I did come on Lawmakers in February, the grant had been frozen. It was unfrozen, and then ultimately terminated at the beginning of May.  

Donna Lowry: Do you feel like you are sounding an alarm and no one's listening?  

Marvin Lim: (laughter)

Karen Lupton: As Democrats, we're kind of used to that. (Laughs)

Marvin Lim: Because nonprofits are so nimble and the government isn't, it is not a surprise. I suppose I can say that when we are trying to sound the alarm, people are waiting to see. It really will take a good deal of us — certainly in government — coming together and figuring out, "Hey, how do we get these grants back?" Or if we're not going to get them back, because we're being realistic as well, what are we going to do to fill that gap?  

Karen Lupton: It's so difficult. People will feel the pain, and it has been somewhat frustrating. The people that we have invited to stand with us at these press conferences are already feeling the pinch and — and shuffling to do the best they can.  

Donna Lowry: I want to thank both of you, Rep. Marvin Lim and Rep. Karen Lupton, for coming on Lawmakers Huddle and talking about this. It may be something we talk about in the coming months, too.

Karen Lupton: Thank you so much for having us, Donna.  

Marvin Lim: Very happy as always to be with you, Donna.  

Donna Lowry: To hear more of this Lawmakers Huddle, you can go to the podcast Battleground Ballot Box. For Lawmakers Huddle, I'm Donna Lowry.