In late January the Federal Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum that called for an immediate pause on federal funding to more than 2,600 programs, including funds made available through the Older Americans Act (OAA). The memo was rescinded, and a U.S. district court granted a temporary restraining order of the Office of Management and Budget’s funding freeze. This remains a dynamic situation and the future of services and support for millions of people are at stake. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has a resource page where they are posting regular updates.
Trellis is monitoring the situation closely. We will continue to administer $13 million in Older Americans Act funding to 38 providers across our 7-county service area unless and until we receive clear instruction to pause funding. The actions of the Office of Management and Budget jeopardize more than $21 million in federal OAA funding across our state.
What you can do
Now is the time to be in contact with Minnesota’s congressional delegation to let them know about the critical services made available through the Older Americans Act. In addition to the potential of a federal funding freeze, the continuing federal budget resolution expires on March 14, 2025. It is important that members of Congress hear how vital your services are to helping older adults live at home. We don’t want to see any reductions made in funding for Older Americans Act services as a result of the budget negotiation process.
We urge you to contact Minnesota’s U.S. senators and representatives to let them know how you access OAA funding to improve the lives of older adults and family caregivers in your community. You can find your members of Congress using these online tools:
See below for a call/email script.
Please be watching for additional communications from Trellis as this situation unfolds. Thank you for the difference you make in the lives of older adults and caregivers in our region.
Call/email script
Hello, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent from [your city] writing/calling to urge you to support full funding for the Older Americans Act. This Act funds critical services for older adults and caregivers throughout Minnesota, including [add information about services you provide or receive].
I ask you to please work to protect the Older Americans Act so it can continue to be a lifeline for thousands of Minnesotans. Thank you for your support of older adults and caregivers in our community.
Sincerely,
[your name]
