Tariffs, layoffs, immigration: Michigan feels impact of Trump’s first 100 days

KALAMAZOO, MI — An $18.9 million federal grant would do a world of financial good within the struggling core metropolis neighborhoods round downtown Kalamazoo.

The cash — a fraction what it takes to construct simply one of many $97 million apiece F-15EX fighter jets coming to Macomb County — would enhance housing, improve neighborhood facilities and prepare residents in building, electrical and residential restore abilities.

Lots of the 300 eligible fixer-uppers are within the Northside, a Black, low-income neighborhood crosscut by high-traffic one-ways and bordered on the east by an enormous paper recycling manufacturing unit and the town wastewater plant. A state evaluation discovered that air high quality there poses continual well being dangers and total life expectancy is far below other city neighborhoods.

However the Northside is ready in limbo. The U.S. Environmental Safety Company awarded the grant final 12 months earlier than Donald Trump grew to become president once more. Now, the funds are blocked — and the recipients can solely guess about why as they rent workers and advance a three-year housing undertaking underneath federal contract phrases they’re obligated to uphold in the event that they ever need the cash.

“That cash is contractually obligated,” stated Jenny Doezema, director of the Kalamazoo Local weather Disaster Coalition, a nonprofit which is managing the undertaking for the county.

The group is fielding quite a few calls from owners and contractors who need to be placed on the work listing or submit bids, she stated. “To tug it again at this level is taking again an funding locally that folks have been relying on.”

Kalamazoo is not a one-off. Within the 4 months since Trump took workplace, federal grants have evaporated with little or no clarification as his administration cuts budgets, applications, providers and workers at dizzying velocity in an effort to slash the federal authorities and centralize energy over what it sees as an overreaching administrative state.

In 4 months, Trump has eviscerated social, political, governance and overseas coverage norms. He has shaken Washington, D.C., and the nation at massive and used multi-billionaire Elon Musk’s staff of tech bros to dismantle businesses, slash federal spending and employment, eradicate applications and search entry to knowledge on thousands and thousands of People.

Trump’s efforts to remake a worldwide financial order the U.S. constructed after World Struggle II has injected uncertainty and volatility into markets. His commerce insurance policies have harm Michigan, which is economically reliant on industries hit by tariffs.

Trump has signed greater than 140 government orders since inauguration, probably the most of any U.S. president in 100 days.

“This actually has been an especially sturdy assertion of government energy,” stated Matt Grossmann, a political science professor at Michigan State College and director of the Institute for Public Coverage and Social Analysis.

People are torn. Solely about 4 in 10 approve of how Trump is dealing with the presidency, in line with the Related Press. His rankings on the financial system and commerce are decrease than that. About 46% of U.S. adults approve of his immigration insurance policies, with about half of People saying he has “gone too far” in deporting immigrants residing within the nation illegally.

Whereas it’s regular for a president’s approval rankings to drop as soon as in workplace, Grossmann stated Trump’s decline is accelerated on financial points comparable to inflation and commerce.

“In case you say you’re going to decrease costs and other people don’t see it — and so they additionally don’t see you focusing a lot on that situation, that makes an instantaneous distinction,” he stated.

Commerce warfare is hitting Michigan the place it hurts

Trump was in Michigan on Tuesday to rejoice a presidential chapter the White Home known as the “most profitable first 100 days of any administration in historical past” and which Time Journal known as “among the most destabilizing in American history.”

Trump’s impression in Michigan is coming into sharper focus as his administration passes the symbolic milestone — which the president celebrated in sometimes hyperbolic phrases this week with a Tuesday rally in Macomb County, the place, earlier, he promised state leaders one thing they’ve desperately searched for years: New fighter jets at Selfridge.

“Lately, many in Michigan have feared for the way forward for the bottom. They’ve been calling everyone — however the one one which mattered is Trump,” Trump stated Tuesday.

The jets defend about 5,000 navy and civilian jobs on the base, situated in a metro Detroit battleground county which favored Trump by practically 14 share factors in November. Macomb County, replete with white, blue-collar suburban voters, is a historic bellwether and swing county in a swing state that’s develop into floor zero for financial ache attributable to Trump’s steep tariffs on auto components and autos from Canada and Mexico.

Alongside the pomp and demonstrations on Tuesday, a much less apparent backdrop for Trump’s go to was a leap in Michigan’s unemployment fee, which rose to five.5% in March from 4.2% final 12 months — the largest jump of any U.S. state, placing Michigan in second place for the nation’s highest fee after Nevada.

Whereas among the unemployment determine will be attributed to auto trade layoffs attributable to a weaker demand for electrical autos, economists say Trump’s tariffs nonetheless shoulder blame for value hikes, manufacturing cutbacks and layoffs within the U.S. and Canada.

In April, the Anderson Financial Group of Michigan estimated that 25% auto tariffs on Canada and Mexico would trigger job losses in Michigan because of greater car costs, decrease client demand and disruption in complicated provide chains that contain components which cross the border a number of instances earlier than they’re put in in a completed car.

Automaker Stellantis, dad or mum firm of Jeep, Ram and Chrysler, quickly laid off about 900 autoworkers in Michigan and Indiana in response to auto tariffs.

“For auto tariffs, you take away jobs in American vegetation and probably sooner or later getting a fraction of these again,” stated economist Patrick Anderson, CEO of the Anderson Financial Group consulting agency in East Lansing. “No one is aware of what fraction that’s, but it surely’s going to be some time and it’s going to be a fraction that’s smaller than one.”

Tariffs are hitting Michigan the place it hurts, stated Anderson. “The tariff disaster we face within the trade is clearly as dangerous because the monetary disaster again in 2009 — and arguably a lot worse. It entails not simply financing however precise manufacturing of our items and providers, together with two of our prime three most vital industries: agriculture and vehicles.”

Forward of his Michigan go to, Trump responded to mounting industry pressure and softened auto tariffs by providing rebates to automakers which end a car domestically, and by stopping duties on foreign-made vehicles from layering atop tariffs on metal and aluminum or tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico in response to fentanyl trafficking.

The menace to Michigan agriculture from Trump’s commerce warfare remains to be crystalizing, however the New York Occasions reported that China is shifting soybean buying to Brazil. That hurts Michigan farmers, who export greater than $700 million price of soybeans.

“Residents of Michigan have each proper to have a look at the president and forged judgment on whether or not tariff insurance policies are good or dangerous for Michigan — and proper now they haven’t been good for Michigan over the primary 4 months of this 12 months,” Anderson stated.

There was loads of judgment, tariff-related and in any other case, among the many 1000’s of protesters gathered outdoors Macomb Neighborhood School on Tuesday. Many held upside-down American flags or indicators advocating resistance and dissent. One girl was wearing a crimson cloak and a white bonnet from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian drama ‘The Handmaid’s Story.’

However there have been additionally droves of jubilant Trump supporters decked in crimson hats. A bunch ready in line held a “Finest First 100 Days Ever!” banner, chanting Trump’s title.

“I really feel like we’re changing into an important nation as soon as once more,” stated Felix Karim, 22, of Macomb Township, whereas ready to enter the Trump rally. “I really feel like we’re extra revered — not solely right here, however particularly while you journey.”

Alayna Wrona, 25, of Middle Line, praised Trump’s border insurance policies and his tried ban on transgender folks serving within the navy, early actions she’s been blissful about. She needs the president to deliver down taxes and the price of greater training.

“If (college students) need to switch and exit of state, be capable to afford to go to no matter school they need to exit of state,” she stated. “That’s what I need to see.”

Litigation, layoffs and program cuts roil federal businesses

This 12 months has been a rollercoaster for Andrew Lennox.

The U.S. Marine Corps veteran was fired in February as a supervisor on the John D. Dingell Division of Veterans Affairs Medical Middle in Ann Arbor. A month later he was rehired. In between, Lennox discovered himself seated subsequent to a Pennsylvania sheriff and a Utah businessman listening to Trump’s March 4 Congressional tackle on the capitol.

Lennox was invited by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat who gave the occasion’s rebuttal. He stated the vilification of federal employees — about 75,000 of which reside or work in Michigan — by Trump officers, supporters and Republicans feels hypocritical.

“It’s like — you guys had our again after we have been in Afghanistan,” he stated.

“We’re not deep state insiders,” he stated. “We need to hold our water clear, maintain veterans, be certain youngsters get lunch. There’s a extreme lack of empathy.”

There’s no official determine for the entire variety of firings and layoffs among the many 2.4 million U.S. federal employees underneath Trump. The Michigan Dept. of Labor and Financial Alternative stated it obtained about 400 unemployment claims from federal employees as of April 21, however that’s “not a full, correct illustration” as a result of they aren’t categorically tracked.

Like many fired by Trump, Lennox was rehired after a U.S. District decide in California issued an injunction forcing the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Protection, Power, Inside and Treasury to reinstate terminated probationary staff. However the administration remains to be pursuing their terminations in courtroom whereas planning for larger-scale company reductions-in-force, placing many employees in limbo. Some have been placed on administrative depart or fired a second time underneath completely different authorized reasoning.

The disruptions have hampered authorities applications and providers. Sleeping Bear Dunes Nationwide Lakeshore struggled to rent seasonal workers obligatory to guard endangered shorebirds and prepared the park for guests after a blanket hiring freeze.

Extra: Trump firings erode Michigan public providers

Algal bloom monitoring, shoreline mapping, knowledge assortment, ice and snow forecasting and buoy deployment within the Nice Lakes are threatened by staffing and proposed finances cuts on the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), say former staff and companions which rely company funding.

Within the environmental coverage realm, Michigan teams are girding for battle over air pollution enforcement and local weather regulation rollbacks they see as existential threats.

Even when lots of the present federal guidelines are upheld, “the Trump administration nonetheless wins in numerous methods as a result of this sweeping motion goes to gum up the works,” stated Charlotte Jameson, chief coverage officer on the Michigan Environmental Council. “It’s going to cease enforcement and implementation of numerous actually vital applications.”

Whereas usually gradual to resolve weighty issues, federal courts have nonetheless functioned this 12 months as a main test on Trump’s blitz of government motion, notably round mass federal layoffs, freezing federal grants, cuts to college medical analysis, overseas help and immigrant deportation.

Michigan Legal professional Basic Dana Nessel has been active in Trump litigation. Her workplace is soliciting studies about social safety disruptions and is she’s joined a coalition of Democratic attorneys common submitting lawsuits in opposition to makes an attempt to fireplace employees, minimize public well being and catastrophe reduction grants, impose proof-of-citizenship voting necessities, and dismantle the Division of Schooling and the Institute of Museum and Library Providers.

The lawsuits have helped jar free federal funding. On April 21, the Federal Emergency Administration Company launched thousands and thousands in catastrophe reduction and restoration reimbursements for the state of Michigan that had threatened to disrupt providers and payroll.

Within the battle over immigration enforcement, Michigan’s place alongside a world border has thrust the state into the controversy over due course of — thanks partially to driver confusion on I-75 close to the Ambassador Bridge, the place the results of a mistaken flip into the border safety space have develop into very critical.

A Venezuelan synthetic a mistaken flip delivering meals in January and was swiftly deported to a jail in El Salvador. A Guatemalan girl who entered the nation illegally in 2018 was held in a windowless room on the border workplace together with her two younger youngsters, ages 1 and 5, for 5 days after taking a mistaken flip into the bridge space whereas en path to Costco.

Immigrant advocates say border places of work have develop into de facto holding facilities underneath Trump, who has pledged to deport thousands and thousands. Democratic U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit stated border officers advised her in March that 213 folks have been detained since January, with most being those that unintentionally took a mistaken flip onto the bridge.

“Individuals needed administration of the southern border — not essentially a broad right throughout all borders,” stated Grossmann. “I believe that performs a bit bit otherwise right here.”

The commerce warfare and strained relations with Canada over Trump’s expansionist discuss annexing the nation as a 51st state has translated right into a noticeable drop in visitors throughout every of Michigan’s three worldwide bridges. The most important drop is on the Sault Ste. Marie Worldwide Bridge within the Higher Peninsula, the place U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data shows that passenger visitors is down virtually 34% year-over-year in March.

Linda Hoath, director of the Sault Space Conference and Guests Bureau and a member of the bridge authority board, stated there was a noticeable drop in Ontario license plates round Sault Ste. Marie, significantly at native grocery shops.

Hoath stated the lack of Ontario enterprise reminds her of the pandemic in some methods. She redirected her Pure Michigan tourism advert spending away from Canada this 12 months.

“It’s the rhetoric. It’s the tariffs. It’s all of it,” she stated.

Help applications face cuts, mining permits velocity forward

The Trump tide is sinking some boats and lifting others.

The EPA wouldn’t specify why the Kalamazoo housing undertaking grant was blocked when MLive requested this week. Company spokespeople stated solely {that a} assessment is ongoing as a part of a regular effort “to make sure every (grant) is an applicable use of taxpayer {dollars} and to grasp how these applications align with administration priorities.”

RELATED: Extra of MLive’s protection of Trump

The impression of Trump’s government-slashing in Kalamazoo goes past housing grant limbo. Nonprofit leaders gathered Wednesday to announce that native organizations have misplaced greater than $37 million in federal funding this 12 months for providers starting from housing help and meals pantry provide to authorized providers for immigrant households.

Greater than 60 folks have already misplaced jobs and one other 700 are in danger, in line with a neighborhood community impact analysis.

Meals banks in Grand Rapids, Flint, Battle Creek, Lansing, Detroit and Ann Arbor are scrambling to serve meals after the U.S. Division of Agriculture canceled $4.3 million price of emergency meals for low-income households.

Elsewhere in Michigan, allowing is being fast-tracked for a salt mine close to Evart underneath a Trump order which added potash, an agricultural fertilizer that’s closely imported from Canada, to a listing of minerals thought-about “crucial” to nationwide safety.

About 30 miles west of Evart, an idled non-public jail is reopening in Lake County underneath a federal contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deal with detainees as Trump ramps up deportations. Which means income for native governments, which assess taxes and costs about $15,000 monthly for water and sewer providers.

Jail taxes assist fund native emergency providers, police, colleges, libraries, veterans and senior applications. Proprietor GEO Group paid about $1.6 million in native taxes in 2021, the final 12 months the jail was totally open, but it surely has additionally challenged current assessments.

“What it means is jobs and housing — extra folks in our retailers and shops after they’re open,” stated Harold Nichols, village of Baldwin president. “It’s a blessing to the neighborhood after they’re open. However when it’s not, it creates hardships.”

In Macomb County on Tuesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer known as the brand new fighter jets a “game-changer” for Michigan’s financial system.

State Republican leaders comparable to Home Speaker Matt Corridor and Senate Minority Chief Aric Nesbitt joined Trump for the announcement, but it surely was the Democratic governor whom Trump hugged, credited for the win and motioned as much as communicate first.

“Properly, I hadn’t deliberate to talk…” said Whitmer, nervously approaching the rostrum contained in the Selfridge hangar three weeks after an ungainly expertise within the Oval Workplace, the place she was unexpectedly ushered right into a press convention and tried to cover her face behind blue folders. However she rolled with it Tuesday. There have been no folders at hand, anyhow.

“I’m actually rattling blissful we’re right here to rejoice this recapitalization at Selfridge,” Whitmer stated. “It’s essential for the Michigan financial system. It’s essential for the women and men right here, for our homeland safety and our future.”

She continued. “Thanks. I’m so grateful that…” – she paused to look again at Trump, who smiled, “… this announcement was made at the moment. And I recognize all of the work.”

Click on right here to comply with MLive’s full protection of President Trump’s impression on Michigan.