As detailed this week by Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, the state of Vancouver depends in part on the federal government. “You’ll notice that I’ve been mentioning several grants this evening,” McEnerny-Ogle said during an annual State of the City address. “Vancouver takes pride in bringing your tax dollars back from the state and back from the federal level to our community, to address and to work on your priorities.” In 2024, she said, the city of Vancouver landed 58 new grants worth $88 million, combining with earlier outlays and “leading to a record high of 197 grants worth more than $218 million being managed by the city.” Not all of those were federal grants, but the numbers point out the connection between Vancouver and Washington, D.C. They also point out the reason for concern about the direction of the federal government.

With President Donald Trump hiring Elon Musk and creating what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency – actual federal departments are created with congressional approval – the future of federal assistance at the local level is in doubt. In January, the White House issued, then later rescinded, a memo announcing a freeze on nearly all federal grants and loans. According to Columbian reporter Alexis Weisend, the city of Vancouver estimates the amount of unspent federal funds at risk was more than $100 million as of Jan. 29. “Administrations come and go,” McEnerny-Ogle said, “and many of the grants and funding we pursue have always spanned multiple administrations and the ensuing shift in priorities that accompany them. But we will continue to work on ambitious projects that support the community and Vancouver’s growth and development. That is not going to stop, despite what happens at the federal level.” The words are hopeful. But there is no doubt that the loss of more than $100 million designated for specific projects would limit efforts to increase housing, reduce homelessness, provide public safety and attract businesses. Equally disconcerting is the chaos coming from Washington, D.C., with DOGE initiatives sometimes announced and then rescinded, and others being deemed illegal in court rulings.

That creates uncertainty that impacts planning for municipal governments, but it presents only one of the challenges facing the city of Vancouver. Regarding homelessness, McEnerny-Ogle detailed the development of Safe Stay communities and progress toward a large shelter facility. She also acknowledged that the issue is a significant one in the minds of residents: “We have heard you, and at the same time, addressing homelessness and its impact on both the housed and the unhoused is complex. No one solution exists.” Regarding public safety, she acknowledged voters’ rejection of a tax levy last year to fund increased police services, and said, “The demand for police services continues to grow as our population grows, and calls for service continue to be increasingly complex.” Regarding growth, she focused on burgeoning projects near the waterfront and in the Heights District.

All of that could be overshadowed by federal efforts to eliminate expenditures approved by Congress or from agencies established by Congress. While there is a need for government efficiency and a need to ferret out waste, indiscriminate cuts can have a deleterious impact on meaningful projects throughout the nation. The hope is that such an impact will not diminish Vancouver’s ambitions.