A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans. The freeze, which was set to take effect Tuesday afternoon, would have paused funding for a wide range of programs, including those that provide direct assistance to Americans. The administration said the funding pause was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent executive orders, but the vague wording of the memo and incomplete answers from the White House left many unsure about the scope of the freeze. Organizations across the country expressed concern about the potential impact of the funding pause, with some fearing layoffs or delays in public services.
Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at PPG Paints Arena, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
“This sort of came out of the blue,” said David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, one of countless districts that receives federal funding. Now they're trying to figure out what it means “based on zero information.” The National Science Foundation postponed this week’s panels for reviewing grant applications. Officials in Prichard, Alabama, feared they wouldn’t receive infrastructure funding to fix their leaking drinking water system. Republican leaders in Louisiana said they were “seeking clarity” to ensure nothing was “jeopardizing financial stability of the state.”
Trillions of dollars are potentially under review. Grants that have been awarded but not spent are also supposed to be halted if they might violate one of Trump’s executive orders. Democrats described the Trump administration’s decision as capricious and illegal. They argued that the president had no right to unilaterally stop spending money appropriated by Congress.
TRUMP FEDERAL FUNDING GRANTS LOANS IDEOLOGICAL REVIEW CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH
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