The White House assured federal financial aid recipients that their benefits would continue during the administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans. Karoline Leavitt, press secretary, stated that Social Security, Medicare, food stamps (SNAP), welfare, and other benefits will continue.
“This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump Administration,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated.
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on Monday night, Jan. 27, instructing all departments and agencies to review all programs to ensure they are in line with President Trump’s priorities and recent executive orders.
“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and Green New Deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” according to the memo.
Congress has already approved the money being withheld, prompting Democrats on Capitol Hill to label it illegal and unconstitutional.
“This decision is unlawful, dangerous, destructive, and cruel. It is illegal. “It is unconstitutional,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York.
Republican leaders, on the other hand, said it was acceptable. They claim the hold is only temporary, and Trump will release it once the review is completed.
“He said he was going to review it. He’s not stopping. He’s reviewing it, and in a certain amount of time, he’ll re-release it,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama. “That is what he ran on. He ran around looking at everything he could find to determine where the money was going.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Congress will review the grants and loans on a case-by-case basis to see if they fall within the executive branch’s authority.
“There are some areas where he might be able to stop them. There are other areas that are restricted,” Rounds stated.
On Tuesday, January 28, 23 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block Trump’s funding halt.
Leave a Reply