During a recent White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reassured the public that federal individual assistance programs will not be impacted by a freeze on federal grants and loans. Leavitt emphasized that individuals receiving direct assistance from the federal government, such as Social Security benefits, Medicare, food stamps, welfare benefits, and other aid, will not be affected by the pause on federal grants and loans.
Leavitt made it clear that the freeze on federal grants and loans is not a blanket pause on all federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration. The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo outlining the pause, which aims to eliminate what they refer to as 'wokeness' and the 'weaponization of government' in order to enhance government efficiency.
The memo directs federal agencies to temporarily halt all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of federal financial assistance, as well as other relevant agency activities impacted by executive orders. This includes financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.
The pause officially went into effect at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, as outlined in the memo from the Office of Management and Budget. Leavitt's statements sought to provide clarity and assurance to individuals who rely on federal assistance programs that their benefits will continue uninterrupted despite the freeze on federal grants and loans.
