A sign from the People’s March Seattle demonstration in January

Seattle City Council president Sara Nelson has responded to the call of the council’s junior member for a new committee dedicated to responding to “changes in the federal government which threaten funding to the City of Seattle.”

Council President Sara Nelson announced headed into the weekend she is form a new Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes.

Citywide rep Alexis Mercedes Rinck called for the new committee Friday morning.

“Throughout the past week, we have seen a flurry of executive orders coming from the new presidential administration challenging the rights and livelihoods of many of our residents, and the health of our institutions,” the statement from Rinck’s office read. “Many organizations, programs, and people within Seattle rely on federal funding to carry out their work and live healthy lives. What is clear is that major changes are underway on the federal front, and local leaders must be tuned in.”

Rinck says a a dedicated select committee is needed “to identify strong local responses to changes in the federal government which threaten funding to the City of Seattle,” including changes in funding that could “impact areas including but not limited to housing, public safety, transportation, emergency and disaster aid/response, climate change, public health, human and social services, immigration, nutrition, economic development, small businesses, and education.”

The start of the second Trump administration has been marked by extraordinary levels of executive orders that have caused confusion and uncertainty — and sometimes real, immediate damage as aid and funding to programs has been paused or wiped away.

While local governments are girding themselves against the chaos, protests and demonstrations including a small wave of actions around Capitol Hill’s Cal Anderson Park have continued.

In her statement, Nelson said the new committee will include all nine members of the council, and with a planned first meeting date in early March.

“It’s my responsibility as an elected official and as Seattle City Council President to make sure every one of my constituents feels safe, particularly our most vulnerable communities who are being targeted by the onslaught of executive orders on a daily basis” Nelson said in a statement thanking Councilmember Rinck “for bringing this forward.”

“We’re all seeing the chaos and uncertainty in Washington, D.C. but we’re focused on stability here. Our constituents deserve to know that we are not only paying attention, but have a viable plan to protect our people, community resources, and basic government services,” Nelson said.

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