Illinois GOP Chair Slams Gov. Pritzker Over Federal Funds Request, Calls it 'Grandstanding'

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and 16 state Democrats are pressing the Trump administration to release $1.88 billion in federal funding that they claim is overdue. In a strongly worded letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), they warned of dire consequences, including paused operations, canceled projects, and layoffs, if the funds don’t come through. Predictably, Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi isn’t buying it, dismissing the effort as nothing more than political theater.

In their letter, Pritzker and his Democratic allies painted a grim picture for Illinois, saying the funding freeze would "detrimentally impact vulnerable people, local economies, and the state as a whole." Meanwhile, Salvi has accused the governor of using this issue as a stepping stone for a rumored 2028 presidential bid. "Governor Pritzker is grandstanding for his 2028 run for president instead of focusing on the mess he’s left in Illinois," Salvi told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

Salvi didn’t hold back, criticizing Pritzker's fiscal management since taking office. She noted that the state budget has ballooned from $39 billion to $55 billion during his tenure, accusing him of asking for a "blank check" from the federal government without accountability.

The Democrats’ letter called for transparency and accused the Trump administration of failing to uphold its legal obligations. "If the Trump Administration is unable to follow the law and uphold their end of the deal, the people of our state deserve to know," they wrote. But Salvi countered with sharp criticism, claiming Pritzker’s policies have worsened Illinois’ crime rate and created an "educational mess" in Chicago. She described his trip to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as a "distraction" from the state’s issues.

Adding fuel to the fire, a federal judge recently granted a preliminary injunction to extend a block on the OMB’s funding freeze, which had been implemented following Trump’s executive orders. Illinois was among 22 states and Washington, D.C., that sued the Trump administration to unfreeze funds. Similar lawsuits have emerged in states like Pennsylvania, where Governor Josh Shapiro successfully restored $2.1 billion in federal funding after legal action and what he described as "direct engagement" with the administration.

Pritzker’s letter to the Trump administration called for the funds to be released to support small businesses, affordable solar energy, infrastructure improvements, and more. "These funds have been contractually agreed to, allocated, and planned around by their recipients," the letter stated, emphasizing the wide-reaching impact on childcare providers, educational institutions, and community organizations.

Salvi, however, insists Illinois taxpayers deserve better. "Instead of dealing with the problems that he and his administration have caused here in Illinois, he decides to distract and sue the federal government," she said. "Well, I think we need to have an accounting here in Illinois. We, Illinois taxpayers and citizens and families, we require results."

The Democrats’ letter concludes with a demand for the Trump administration to answer five questions about the disbursement of federal funds by March 4, 2025. Meanwhile, the political tug-of-war continues, with accusations of blame and ambitions for higher office coloring the debate.