ALPENA — Alpena officials are still uncertain about the impact President Donald Trump’s federal spending freeze will have on operations or local projects.

On Tuesday, Trump froze payment of all federal grants and loans until entities that have been granted federal money or borrowing funds comply with the president’s executive order pertaining to transgender rights, environmental justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

A federal judge blocked Trump’s mandate temporarily after attorney generals from several states, including Michigan, filed a lawsuit.

In Alpena, City Manager Rachel Smolinski said it is too soon after Trump’s order to know how the freeze could impact the city. She said as more details are released, the clearer it will be to know the possible ramifications and how the city will address them.

“I think, right now, it is too early to speculate what funding sources could be affected,” she said. “I will be working over the next several days to learn more and make sure the city has a plan moving forward.”

Smolinski said the project to renovate Culligan Plaza could be impacted because although the grant money came from the Michigan Economic Corp., it is from federal money that was allocated to the state to pass on.

“Right now, the city is going to continue on and it will be business as usual until we find out more,” she said.

Alpena Mayor Cindy Johnson said that if the funding freeze holds, the federal money the Northeast Michigan Materials Management Authority received to help cover the cost of the construction of a new recycling center could now be in doubt unless hints change.

It seems like the Alpena County Road Commission won’t be impacted, at least for now. Managing Director Ryan Brege said most road funds come directly from state money and no federal loans are outstanding. He too said he needs to learn more about Trump’s order so future projects aren’t at risk.

“Right now, we don’t have any federal grants or federal funds we receive,” Brege said. “It could possibly impact future grants though.”

Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said he needs to do a deeper dive into the order and then he would update the community on potential impacts to the school district.

A message was left with Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer to see what impacts, if any, the funding freeze could have on county operations.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.