DOVER, Del. — Two top Republican lawmakers are calling on Delaware’s government to rein in state spending following the federal government’s decision to rescind COVID-19 public health grants — a move that includes pulling $38 million from programs in the First State.
In a joint opinion, State House Republican Leader Tim Dukes and State House Republican Whip Jeff Spiegelman said the cuts underscore the need for responsible budgeting and long-term financial planning.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and [the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a…pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago,” said a statement issued to multiple news organizations.
The announcement comes as the federal government withdraws about $12 billion in pandemic relief funding nationwide. Though some grants were set to expire later in 2025 or by 2027, Dukes and Spiegelman argue the cutbacks should serve as a wake-up call for state officials.
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer pushed back against the move, calling it politically motivated and harmful.
“The Trump Administration is stealing $38 million from Delaware that goes directly towards funding key public health programs,” Meyer said in a press release.
But Dukes and Spiegelman criticized the governor’s response as partisan and out of touch with financial reality. They pointed to Gov. Matt Meyer's $6.58 billion revised spending plan for Delaware— a 7.4% increase from the current $6.1 billion budget — as unsustainable in light of flat revenue growth. They also noted that state spending has risen by more than 45% in just five years.
“There are few Delawareans who have seen their income or buying power grow at this rate over the same period,” the lawmakers wrote.
Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Maxwell said during the governor’s budget reset presentation that the state may tap into its $469 million Budget Stabilization Fund. However, he also warned Delaware could face a $500 million shortfall within two years.
Dukes and Spiegelman called for a more measured approach: reduce the size of the upcoming budget, backfill key programs impacted by the federal cuts where appropriate, and tie future spending growth to inflation and population changes.
“Delaware’s working parents and small business owners know the brutal reality of cold math,” they wrote. “They understand that income is finite, priorities must be established, and difficult choices made. As their chosen leaders, should they expect anything less of us?”
They urged a bipartisan effort to identify top priorities and adopt policies that ensure Delaware’s financial stability, now and in the future.