The Village Exchange Center (VEC), a nonprofit in Aurora, Colorado, is facing the risk of losing $5 million in federal funding, putting the organization in a difficult position. CEO Amanda Blaurock revealed that the center has already received $3 million in stop-work orders and terminations in the past three weeks. The VEC serves over 4,000 people a week from 42 different countries of origin, including immigrants who arrived from the Southern Border.
The loss of funding threatens to impact the center’s ability to provide food and support to those in need, leading to concerns about the dignity, safety, and security of the community in Aurora. Despite efforts by Colorado’s congressional Republicans and a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Phil Weiser to recover some of the funding, the situation remains dire.
President Trump recently praised cuts in federal funding, citing fraud and waste within the system. However, Adams County Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio expressed concerns about the impact on families who rely on services like those provided by the VEC. RFK Jr. defended the cuts as necessary, claiming that agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were bloated and inefficient.
Blaurock remains determined to keep the center open, even if it means operating at a reduced capacity. The future of the VEC and its ability to continue serving the community hang in the balance as the organization struggles to navigate the loss of critical federal funding.
