DES MOINES, Iowa — Over 400 people were in the Iowa State Capitol building for Lutheran Day on the Hill 2025.

This year’s event comes as Lutheran Services in Iowa says that the federal government is yet to reimburse the organization for more than a million dollars in costs.

“It’s important more so than ever that state advocacy helps talk to folks at the federal level to do what they should be doing, that’s honoring a contract, a contract where we have at least at the minimum, we paid $1.5 million for services that we’ve done starting back in November,” said Renee Hardman, President & CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa. “We’re proud that we have supporters in this community that are stepping up to the plate, coming here, giving us money because they believe in what we do. So, we’re not alone.”

President Trump froze funding for most refugee programs for 90 days after taking office. LSI will lay off nearly 30 staff members and end the resettlement program next month with the foreign aid freeze.

LSI also does work in the state on mental health services, early childhood prevention, foster care and more. The organization serves around 1,400 refugees in the state according to the president.

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