Portland’s Federal Funding in the Crosshairs Over Antifa Chaos, Journalist Arrest [WATCH]

President Donald Trump has directed his administration to examine whether federal funds can be withdrawn from Portland, Oregon, following violent protests in the city.

The directive came after the arrest of conservative influencer Nick Sortor on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct during demonstrations near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

Hey @PortlandPolice: you made a big freaking mistake.

You PROVED what we’ve all been saying for years: you’re CORRUPT and CONTROLLED by vioIent Antifa thugs who terrorize the streets

You thought arresting me would make me shut up and go away. You couldn’t have been more wrong.… pic.twitter.com/Dz8oJ3V8NP

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 3, 2025

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president’s order during a Friday press briefing, citing growing concerns over unrest in the city and what she described as tolerance for lawlessness by local officials.

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“This incident is part of a troubling trend in Portland, where left-wing mobs believe they get to decide who can visit and live in their city. It is not their city, it is the American people’s city, and President Trump is going to restore that,” Leavitt told reporters.

She added that the president has instructed his staff to begin reviewing federal aid directed to Portland.

“I just spoke with the President about this, and he has directed his team here at the White House to begin reviewing aid that can potentially be cut in Portland. We will not fund states that allow anarchy. There will also be an additional surge of federal resources to Portland immediately, including enhanced CBP and ICE resources. Law and order will prevail, and President Trump will make sure of it,” Leavitt said.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump has ordered Pete Hegseth to deploy active duty troops to liberate “war ravaged Portland” following the city’s targeted, politically-motivated arrest of me

“President Trump will END the RADICAL LEFT’S REIGN OF TERROR in Portland once and for all!” 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/h9PRsFyDxC

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 3, 2025

The administration has already deployed 200 Oregon National Guard soldiers to Portland in response to the demonstrations, although a federal judge is currently reviewing the legality of that deployment.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson pushed back against the White House:

“Let me be clear: Portland is not a military target. We will use every legal and constitutional tool at our disposal to protect our residents, uphold our values, and defend the rights of every Portlander,” Wilson said in a statement.

Wilson’s office also criticized the administration’s threat to withhold funding, claiming no formal notice had been delivered to the city.

“The federal government should be focused on partnering with us to expand housing, create jobs, and bolster social services – not siphon vital funding from our economy during a government shutdown that is already hurting cities like ours across the nation,” Wilson added.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson denounces military deployment, falsely claims footage from violent ICE riots is from 2020:

“This is not a military target. The president will not find violence or lawlessness here.” pic.twitter.com/MW9V2Gf4CI

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 27, 2025

BREAKING: I went behind the scenes at the ICE facility in Portland with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service (@FPSDHS).

As anti-ICE protesters lay siege to the ICE facility for more than 90 consecutive days, here’s an inside look at the officers who… pic.twitter.com/Uy5pe4jJ5D

— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) September 11, 2025

The move against Portland comes as the Trump administration is reviewing funding to several Democratic-led cities and states during the third day of a government shutdown.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought confirmed that $2.1 billion earmarked for Chicago’s Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project had been put on hold.

“It’s because the administration is concerned that the Biden administration was handing out taxpayer dollars to pay for this construction based on DEI,” Leavitt said.

“DOT is reviewing the race-based contracting on unconstitutional grounds, and in the meantime, the Department of Transportation funds for these projects are on hold.”

Earlier in the week, Vought announced that $18 billion in funding for several New York infrastructure projects had also been paused over similar concerns.

An additional $8 billion for environmental initiatives across 16 Democrat-led states was either paused or canceled outright.

On Thursday, President Trump and Vought met to evaluate which federal agencies could face additional layoffs if the shutdown continues.

“Discussions continue between the Office of Management and Budget and Cabinet agencies across the board, and they are actively identifying where these cuts and these layoffs have to be made as this government shutdown hopefully does not continue,” Leavitt told reporters.

The president’s directive on Portland signals an escalation in the administration’s approach to cities experiencing unrest and resistance to federal intervention.

With funding reviews underway and additional deployments announced, the White House has indicated that federal action in Portland will expand in the coming days.