The federal government funding bill signed by President Donald Trump on Saturday, March 15, cuts $30.3 million from the Inland Empire, including money to build a new animal shelter in San Bernardino County, Inland Democratic lawmakers said.
Reps. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, and Mark Takano, D-Riverside, put out lists detailing what they describe as cuts to projects and programs in the bill, which passed on a mostly party-line vote and funds the government through Sept. 30.
“This extreme funding bill evaporates the resources our community deserves, while doing nothing to lower costs or make life better for hardworking families,” Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a news release.
“This government funding bill proves yet again that Donald Trump and House Republicans do not care about the Inland Empire and the families who live, work and pay taxes here.”
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Meanwhile, Inland Republicans backed the spending bill, with Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, saying it averted a government shutdown and protects key programs.
The bill, Calvert said in a news release, protects Social Security and Medicare and “critical” Veterans Administration programs.
The bill also provides $22.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, boosts funding for air traffic control, adds another $500 million to the Woman, Infants and Children nutrition program and includes “the largest pay raise for junior enlisted troops in over 40 years,” Calvert said.
Inland congressional delegation members voting for the bill were Calvert and Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, and Darrell Issa, R-Escondido. Voting no were Aguilar, Takano and Reps. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, and Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert.
Takano said in a news release that “the funding bill Congress voted on last week cuts a check for the President to continue his deeply unpopular agenda while revoking funding for water infrastructure, housing, transportation and workforce development projects in Riverside County.”
Aguilar said the bill cuts $2 million for San Bernardino County’s Bloomington animal shelter.
The new shelter, expected to open in 2027, will have more room for stray animals than the county’s current shelter in Devore.
Though the federal money “would assist the county in constructing a portion of the facility,” county officials will use dollars already set aside for the project, San Bernardino County spokesperson David Wert said via email.
The bill also cuts $3 million for the next phase of the Housing Authority of San Bernardino County’s Arrowhead Grove Inclusive Redevelopment Project, which would add 92 affordable housing units to San Bernardino, according to Aguilar’s office.
Nicole Beydler, the authority’s director of policy and communications, said via email that “while we are disappointed to lose the support, the (project) will move forward.”
Other cuts outlined by Aguilar’s office include:
- $1.184 million for license plate readers and other crime-fighting technology in San Bernardino
- $1.184 million for virtual reality and artificial intelligence training at Cal State San Bernardino
- $250,000 to modernize Texonia Park in Redlands
- $250,000 for the second phase of a project to ease traffic congestion and improve safety at the 210 Freeway and 5th Street in Highland
In an emailed statement, Cal State said it “will continue to move forward with” its AI and Virtual Reality Research and Retraining Center “in close partnership” with Aguilar.
Takano’s office outlined what it said are $12.8 million in cuts to the congressmember’s district, including:
- $1.66 million to expand a Perris senior center
- $1.919 for Eastern Municipal Water District projects
- $1 million for an affordable housing project in Jurupa Valley
- $1 million for a workforce development building and nonprofit/business incubator in Moreno Valley
The bill also cuts $2 million from a project to restore an armory building at Riverside’s Fairmount Park, according to Takano’s office.
Phil Pitchford, a Riverside city spokesperson, said via email that the city appreciates Takano’s efforts to get money for the project and looks forward to “working with him and his staff to move the project forward as soon as possible.”
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