The Trump administration is causing uncertainty as it moves to enforce a broad block on government help, contradicting rules passed by Congress in previous years.
The White House budget office sent a 52-page memo early Tuesday directing agencies to respond to 14 questions by the end of next week for any program that “has funding or activities planned through March 15.”
The spreadsheet, obtained by HEADLINESFOREVER, covers thousands of programs, including many that provide monthly assistance to U.S. households, such as food aid to “very low-income” people aged 60 and up, the home energy program, which helps cover winter heating costs for the poorest households, and the WIC program, which assists low-income pregnant mothers and babies.
However, hours later, the Office of Management and Budget issued a follow-up memo, which was also obtained by HEADLINESFOREVER, explaining that the freeze would not affect benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or student loans, nor would Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security payments.
“Funds for small business, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused,” the most recent document said.
The OMB letter also defended the administration’s actions against claims that they violated “impoundment law,” which prohibits presidents from unilaterally withholding funds without the agreement of Congress.
“It is a temporary pause to give agencies time to ensure that financial assistance conforms to the policies set out in the President’s Executive Orders, to the extent permitted by law,” according to the email message.
The Trump administration’s decision Monday night follows the new president’s early executive measures a week ago, which imposed a hold on foreign aid and other public funds.
“Temporary pauses are a necessary part of program implementation that have been ordered by past presidents to ensure that programs are being executed and funds spent in accordance with a new President’s policies and do not constitute impoundments,” the document, issued on Tuesday, says.