Colorado officials are taking a proactive stance against looming federal budget cuts with a new dashboard that tracks funding already slashed or at risk due to Trump administration policies—and shows where the state is fighting back through legal channels.
Tracking the Damage: $97M Cut, $56M at Risk
This Article Includes
So far, the state has:
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Saved $282 million through legal action (temporary or permanent restraining orders),
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Lost $97 million in federal funding,
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And is fighting to retain another $56 million.
The dashboard currently covers nine of Colorado’s 20 agencies, with the Department of Public Health and Environment retaining the most—$211.5 million. However, the data behind these numbers isn’t yet publicly visible.
“This is federal funding that has already been allocated to states by Congress, and now the administration is working to take it away,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We are doing everything in our power to protect this funding.”
The Biggest Piece Still Missing: Medicaid
The largest chunk of federal aid—over $7.8 billion for Medicaid under the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing—isn’t yet included in the dashboard, despite representing more than half of Colorado’s federal funding.
If the proposed H.R. 1 budget reconciliation bill passes the U.S. Senate as is, Colorado could face:
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A $1 billion Medicaid shortfall, with the state needing to cover $350 million on its own,
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$300 million in new costs for SNAP (food stamps),
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A $577 million loss in general fund revenue due to federal tax changes,
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And a $288 million reduction in TABOR refunds for 2025-26.
CDOT and Budget Cuts: A Double Blow
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) was hit hardest:
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Lost $44.5 million in unrecoverable federal funds,
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Also lost nearly $100 million due to state-level budget cuts in 2025-26.
Sen. Jeff Bridges, chair of the Joint Budget Committee, says these state budget cuts won’t be reversed next year, and further reductions are expected.
A Shrinking Budget Amid Rising Costs
The 2025-26 state budget anticipates $14 billion in federal funds, but lawmakers have already slashed $1.2 billion in general funds. The dashboard and legal action come at a time when Colorado is juggling:
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Federal cuts,
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A slowing economy,
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And pressure from a $36 trillion federal debt and $1.8 trillion annual deficit driving Trump’s cost-cutting narrative.
What Comes Next?
While Trump allies argue that scaling back bloated federal programs is necessary to protect future generations, Colorado leaders maintain that these cuts threaten essential services—from public health and cybersecurity to transportation and nutrition assistance.
The state’s dashboard aims to boost transparency and accountability, but without expanded legal wins—or changes to the federal budget bill—Colorado’s already-tight budget could face even more strain.
