Full Breakdown
Federal Funding Cuts to Colorado Alleged Retaliation Over Tina Peters Case
8/15/2026, 12:31:46 PM
The Alleged Retaliation Call
In mid-December, Emily Underwood, a deputy assistant to the president, sent an email titled “brainstorm call” to senior officials in Energy, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture and OMB. “The purpose of this call is to prioritize Colorado for the purposes of ensuring grants and federal support are in line with administration priorities,” Underwood wrote. Within days, the agencies announced adverse actions, including the cancellation of major grant programs and the shutdown of a federal research facility in Boulder.
Background & Context
Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters was convicted in late 2024 of facilitating unauthorized access to election equipment and sentenced to nine years. President Donald Trump repeatedly demanded her release, calling Governor Jared Polis “weak and pathetic” on live television. After the criticism, a symbolic pardon was issued and Trump warned of “harsh measures” if the sentence remained. State officials contend the administration uses federal levers to punish states that oppose its priorities; earlier lawsuits alleged the move of U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs over the state’s mail-in voting system.
Data & Statistics
- DOE: termination of $615 million in Colorado funding.
- DOT: cancellation of $109 million in grant awards.
- OMB: decision to close the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.
- USDA: order for the state to quickly re-certify 100,000 SNAP recipients.
- Federal emergency officials: denial of disaster-relief assistance for fire-scarred areas on the Western Slope.
- President Trump later vetoed legislation that would have provided clean-water improvements to parts of Colorado.
Official Statements & Responses
A White House spokeswoman declined comment on the email’s connection to the cuts, directing inquiries to OMB. Justice Department attorney Adam Fox argued Colorado’s requests for additional evidence were “overly broad and burdensome” and that the state had not exhausted other avenues. U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson, presiding over the lawsuit, described the memo as “extraordinary” and ordered the Executive Office to produce additional documents.
Criticism & Opposition
Deputy Solicitor General David Moskowitz called the email a “smoking gun,” noting a “mad scramble” among agencies to identify actions against Colorado after the meeting. He highlighted the USDA’s acknowledgment that its SNAP review was prompted by the call and cited an Interior request for a compilation of all outstanding Colorado grants.
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
- “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never even imagined something like it,” — R. Brooke Jackson
- “But these are extraordinary times we’re talking about, and this is an extraordinary memo,” — R. Brooke Jackson
- “This power has the ability to change lives — help grant a second chance for someone who has made grave mistakes — and it comes with great consideration, and sometimes even controversy,” — Gov. Jared Polis
- “Since Trump took office, his administration has taken a number of actions that have negatively impacted Coloradans and our communities. If those decisions were based on political retribution against Colorado, we hope the courts will provide relief to Colorado,” — Gov. Jared Polis
What’s Next
Judge Jackson ordered the federal government to comply with most of Colorado’s discovery requests, including communications related to the “brainstorm call.” The lawsuit remains pending, and further rulings will determine whether additional federal actions are deemed unlawful retaliation.
