Full Breakdown
Trump Administration’s Targeted Actions Against Colorado
8/15/2026, 1:09:45 AM
Core Event: Federal Agencies Act on Colorado After Presidential Frustration
In mid-December, Emily Underwood, a deputy assistant to the president, emailed senior officials from the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture and the Office of Management and Budget. Within days, the agencies announced a series of adverse measures: the Energy Department cut $615 million in Colorado funding, the Transportation Department ended $109 million in grant support, the Office of Management and Budget moved to shutter the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, and the Agriculture Department demanded a rapid recertification of 100,000 SNAP recipients. Federal emergency officials also denied disaster-relief funding for fire-scarred areas on the Western Slope, and the president vetoed clean-water legislation for the state.
Background & Context
The actions followed President Donald Trump’s public criticism of Governor Jared Polis for refusing to release former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a prison sentence for a scheme that compromised election equipment. In November, Colorado prison officials denied a request to transfer Peters, prompting Trump to demand her release. Earlier, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney told Trump ally Steve Bannon that federal officials were applying “the right kind of pressure” to secure Peters’ transfer, and Trump issued a symbolic pardon four days before Underwood’s email.
Data & Statistics
- Energy Department: $615 million in funding withdrawn.
- Transportation Department: $109 million in grant funding terminated.
- Office of Management and Budget: Planned closure of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder.
- Agriculture Department: Ordered a swift recertification of 100,000 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.
- Emergency Management: Rejected disaster-relief assistance for Western Slope fire-impacted areas.
- Legislative Action: President Trump vetoed a clean-water bill benefiting parts of Colorado.
Official Statements & Responses
Deputy Solicitor General David Moskowitz described the memo as “extraordinary” and noted a “mad scramble” among agencies to identify actions against the state. U.S. District Judge R. A White House spokeswoman denied any link between the email and the Peters case, directing inquiries about grant funding to the budget office. Justice Department attorney Adam Fox did not dispute the email’s contents but argued that the state’s discovery requests were overly broad and burdensome.
Criticism & Opposition
Colorado officials argue that the administration is using federal regulatory and financial powers to punish the state for its election-related decisions. The state’s legal team contends that the actions constitute retaliation that violates the Constitution, and they seek further evidence of coordinated targeting.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The White House maintains that the email was unrelated to the Peters matter, while Colorado’s lawsuit asserts a direct connection. The Justice Department has not provided a detailed explanation for the timing of the agency actions, and the administration has resisted turning over additional communications, citing sensitivity and burden concerns.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The purpose of this call is to prioritize Colorado for the purposes of ensuring grants and federal support are in line with administration priorities,” — Emily Underwood, a deputy assistant to the president
- “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never even imagined something like it,” — R. Brooke Jackson, district judge
- “But these are extraordinary times we’re talking about, and this is an extraordinary memo,” — R. Brooke Jackson, district judge
