Stephen Miller speaking at a Donald Trump rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Gage Skidmore
January 29, 2025
ALTERNET
Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff, is under fire after appearing repeatedly to attempt to whitewash the Office of Management and Budget memo that ordered a funding freeze on “all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
The OMB memo, which was not publicly rolled out but rather discovered by journalist Marisa Kabas, appears to have led to the shuttering on Tuesday of the Medicaid portals in all 50 states. There were also reports that in addition to the Medicaid portal, the portal for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as “food stamps,” also went down on Tuesday, along with other sources or recipients of federal funding.
Miller declared that the massive nationwide concern and confusion were a media creation.
“I can’t help it if left-wing media outlets published a fake news story that caused confusion,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. The confusion, Miller insisted, was a “false story” that was “created by the media.”
Later on Tuesday Miller doubled down, declaring on social media, “Welcome to the first dumb media hoax of 2025. OMB ordered a review of funding to NGOs, foreign governments and large discretionary contracts. It explicitly excluded all aid and benefit programs. Leftwing media outright lied and some people fell for the hoax.”
OMB was forced to issue an explainer Tuesday after media outlets accurately reported what the OMB memo stated. But some say that the FAQ was an opportunity for OMB to backtrack after massive, nationwide anger, fear, and confusion — which was somewhat quieted after a federal judge issued a temporary partial pause on the OMB memo.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) responded to Miller’s remarks, writing: “They are back-tracking because we spoke up. Good. But make no mistake: their OMB memo ordered a freeze of *all* grants. The Medicaid and SNAP portals went dark. Head Start providers couldn’t draw funds. This was not a coincidence. It was their plan. And they screwed up bigly.”
Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff, is under fire after appearing repeatedly to attempt to whitewash the Office of Management and Budget memo that ordered a funding freeze on “all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
The OMB memo, which was not publicly rolled out but rather discovered by journalist Marisa Kabas, appears to have led to the shuttering on Tuesday of the Medicaid portals in all 50 states. There were also reports that in addition to the Medicaid portal, the portal for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as “food stamps,” also went down on Tuesday, along with other sources or recipients of federal funding.
Miller declared that the massive nationwide concern and confusion were a media creation.
“I can’t help it if left-wing media outlets published a fake news story that caused confusion,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. The confusion, Miller insisted, was a “false story” that was “created by the media.”
Later on Tuesday Miller doubled down, declaring on social media, “Welcome to the first dumb media hoax of 2025. OMB ordered a review of funding to NGOs, foreign governments and large discretionary contracts. It explicitly excluded all aid and benefit programs. Leftwing media outright lied and some people fell for the hoax.”
OMB was forced to issue an explainer Tuesday after media outlets accurately reported what the OMB memo stated. But some say that the FAQ was an opportunity for OMB to backtrack after massive, nationwide anger, fear, and confusion — which was somewhat quieted after a federal judge issued a temporary partial pause on the OMB memo.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) responded to Miller’s remarks, writing: “They are back-tracking because we spoke up. Good. But make no mistake: their OMB memo ordered a freeze of *all* grants. The Medicaid and SNAP portals went dark. Head Start providers couldn’t draw funds. This was not a coincidence. It was their plan. And they screwed up bigly.”
Despite Miller’s repeated claims that the memo was clear and did not affect a wide array of federally-funded programs, The Boston Globe reported that “Children’s Friend, a Head Start program in Rhode Island, said it was unable to draw down $500,000 for this week’s payroll,” and “Open Door Health, an LGBTQ+ health clinic, said it could not access its federal funds on Tuesday.”
Congressman Magaziner also posted a list of organizations that he says are being blocked from receiving funding by the Trump Department of Homeland Security. “This is a gift to terrorists and our adversaries across the world. Trump needs to stop this madness and resume funding now,” Magaziner, the Homeland Security Ranking Member for Counterterrorism, wrote:
Outrage at Miller’s remarks calling the massive public upset and confusion over OMB’s memo a “dumb media hoax” was extensive.
“Completely false. Your first lie of the year. Payment Management Services (PMS), through which states get Medicaid funds from the federal government, had a banner saying payments were stopped because of Trump’s order. Stop lying,” wrote MSNBC columnist Rotimi Adeoye, whose bio says he is a former congressional aide and advisor for the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
“Sure there are dumb media hoaxes but if you accidentally turn off Medicaid people notice,” observed Matt Stoller, a political commentator, author, and the research director of the American Economic Liberties Project.
“Another familiar messaging strategy from the White House – cause confusion and blame it on a ‘media hoax.’ In reality, Programs like Medicaid, Meals on Wheels, etc were locked out of funding today. Either White House made errors or they aren’t telling the truth,” wrote Fox 32 Chicago Political Correspondent Paris Schutz.
“Republicans send out a vague, sloppy, unclear memo that gives everyone the impression that aid to orgs are under attack, Medicaid and other services stop working, Republicans go on AIR supporting this, but Democrats are blamed for pushing a hoax? C’mon get a new playbook,” wrote Tahra Jirari, Director of Economic Analysis at Chamber of Progress.
“No…you complete clowns put out a sweeping vaguely worded executive order that ORDERED ALL FEDERAL GRANT AND LOAN FUNDING TO CEASE, were called out by the public and the media for the disaster this would present, and are now blaming everyone else. You overstepped and got caught,” declared political commentator Andrew Wortman.
“Yeah, it was so explicit that OMB had to release another document in an attempt to clarify,” said Tad DeHaven, a Cato Institute policy analyst.
“Dude you guys literally shut off Medicaid. Which part of that were Democrats or the media involved with?” asked Paul Iskajyan, the Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).
Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff, is under fire after appearing repeatedly to attempt to whitewash the Office of Management and Budget memo that ordered a funding freeze on “all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
The OMB memo, which was not publicly rolled out but rather discovered by journalist Marisa Kabas, appears to have led to the shuttering on Tuesday of the Medicaid portals in all 50 states. There were also reports that in addition to the Medicaid portal, the portal for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as “food stamps,” also went down on Tuesday, along with other sources or recipients of federal funding.
Miller declared that the massive nationwide concern and confusion were a media creation.
“I can’t help it if left-wing media outlets published a fake news story that caused confusion,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. The confusion, Miller insisted, was a “false story” that was “created by the media.”
READ MORE: ‘Despair and Violence’: RFK Jr. Is a ‘Predator’ Says Caroline Kennedy in ‘Damning’ Video
Later on Tuesday Miller doubled down, declaring on social media, “Welcome to the first dumb media hoax of 2025. OMB ordered a review of funding to NGOs, foreign governments and large discretionary contracts. It explicitly excluded all aid and benefit programs. Leftwing media outright lied and some people fell for the hoax.”
OMB was forced to issue an explainer Tuesday after media outlets accurately reported what the OMB memo stated. But some say that the FAQ was an opportunity for OMB to backtrack after massive, nationwide anger, fear, and confusion — which was somewhat quieted after a federal judge issued a temporary partial pause on the OMB memo.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) responded to Miller’s remarks, writing: “They are back-tracking because we spoke up. Good. But make no mistake: their OMB memo ordered a freeze of *all* grants. The Medicaid and SNAP portals went dark. Head Start providers couldn’t draw funds. This was not a coincidence. It was their plan. And they screwed up bigly.”
Despite Miller’s repeated claims that the memo was clear and did not affect a wide array of federally-funded programs, The Boston Globe reported that “Children’s Friend, a Head Start program in Rhode Island, said it was unable to draw down $500,000 for this week’s payroll,” and “Open Door Health, an LGBTQ+ health clinic, said it could not access its federal funds on Tuesday.”
Congressman Magaziner also posted a list of organizations that he says are being blocked from receiving funding by the Trump Department of Homeland Security. “This is a gift to terrorists and our adversaries across the world. Trump needs to stop this madness and resume funding now,” Magaziner, the Homeland Security Ranking Member for Counterterrorism, wrote:
Outrage at Miller’s remarks calling the massive public upset and confusion over OMB’s memo a “dumb media hoax” was extensive.
“Completely false. Your first lie of the year. Payment Management Services (PMS), through which states get Medicaid funds from the federal government, had a banner saying payments were stopped because of Trump’s order. Stop lying,” wrote MSNBC columnist Rotimi Adeoye, whose bio says he is a former congressional aide and advisor for the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
“Sure there are dumb media hoaxes but if you accidentally turn off Medicaid people notice,” observed Matt Stoller, a political commentator, author, and the research director of the American Economic Liberties Project.
“Another familiar messaging strategy from the White House – cause confusion and blame it on a ‘media hoax.’ In reality, Programs like Medicaid, Meals on Wheels, etc were locked out of funding today. Either White House made errors or they aren’t telling the truth,” wrote Fox 32 Chicago Political Correspondent Paris Schutz.
“Republicans send out a vague, sloppy, unclear memo that gives everyone the impression that aid to orgs are under attack, Medicaid and other services stop working, Republicans go on AIR supporting this, but Democrats are blamed for pushing a hoax? C’mon get a new playbook,” wrote Tahra Jirari, Director of Economic Analysis at Chamber of Progress.
“No…you complete clowns put out a sweeping vaguely worded executive order that ORDERED ALL FEDERAL GRANT AND LOAN FUNDING TO CEASE, were called out by the public and the media for the disaster this would present, and are now blaming everyone else. You overstepped and got caught,” declared political commentator Andrew Wortman.
“Yeah, it was so explicit that OMB had to release another document in an attempt to clarify,” said Tad DeHaven, a Cato Institute policy analyst.
“Dude you guys literally shut off Medicaid. Which part of that were Democrats or the media involved with?” asked Paul Iskajyan, the Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).
US judge blocks Trump freeze on federal aid spending
A US district court judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's freeze on funding for federal aid programs. "I think there is the specter of irreparable harm," District Judge Loren AliKhan said at an emergency hearing. Another hearing is scheduled for Monday. Implementation of the funding freeze is on hold until 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) on that day.
Issued on: 29/01/2025 -
A US district court judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's freeze on funding for federal aid programs. "I think there is the specter of irreparable harm," District Judge Loren AliKhan said at an emergency hearing. Another hearing is scheduled for Monday. Implementation of the funding freeze is on hold until 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) on that day.
Issued on: 29/01/2025 -
FRANCE24
By: NEWS WIRES
By: NEWS WIRES
People protest against a funding freeze of federal grants near to the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. © Ben Curtis, AP
President Donald Trump's attempt to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid was temporarily blocked in court on Tuesday, even as it sowed chaos throughout the government and stirred fears that it would disrupt programs that serve tens of millions of Americans.
Minutes before it was due to take effect at 5 pm ET (2200 GMT), a federal judge blocked Trump's spending freeze that would have affected thousands of federal grant programs. US District Judge Loren AliKhan granted a temporary halt after an advocacy group argued the freeze would devastate programs ranging from health care to road construction. The court will revisit the issue on Monday.
Trump's sweeping directive was the latest step in his dramatic effort to overhaul the federal government, which has already seen the new president halt foreign aid, freeze hiring and shutter diversity programs across dozens of agencies.
Democrats castigated the funding freeze as an illegal assault on Congress' authority over federal spending Congress' authority over federal spending and said it was already disrupting payments to doctors and preschool teachers. Republicans largely defended the order as fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to rein in the $6.75 trillion budget.
The Trump administration said programs delivering benefits directly to Americans would not be affected. But Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said his office had confirmed that doctors in all 50 states were not able to secure payments from Medicaid, which provides health coverage to 70 million low-income Americans.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that the government was aware of the Medicaid portal outage and no payments had been affected. She said the website would be back online shortly.
Health care industry officials said the interruption could cause lasting damage. "If the federal government stops pushing funds out to state Medicaid contractors, the result would be a complete debacle, with Medicaid providers going out of business," said Sara Ratner of health care company NOMI Health.
The White House said the freeze was needed to ensure federal aid programs are aligned with the Republican president's priorities, including executive orders he singed ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Wide-reaching programs
Trump's order faces another legal challenge from Democratic state attorneys general, who argued in a lawsuit that the freeze violates the US Constitution and would have a devastating effect on states that rely on federal aid for a substantial portion of their budgets.
Federal grants and loans reach into virtually every corner of Americans' lives, with hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into education, health care and anti-poverty programs, housing assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure and a host of other initiatives.
The proposed cuts could also take a heavy toll on Republican-leaning states, whose residents are significant beneficiaries of major federal programs.
The memo said Tuesday's freeze included any money intended for foreign aid and for nongovernmental organisations, among other categories. It directed 55 agencies to examine more than 2,600 grant programs.
The White House said the pause would not impact Social Security or Medicare payments to older Americans or assistance provided directly to individuals, such as some food aid and welfare programs for the poor. The Pentagon said it would not apply to its contractors.
In a second memo released on Tuesday, the White House said funds for Medicaid, farmers, small businesses, rental assistance and the Head Start preschool program would continue without interruption. But Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the reimbursement system for Head Start had been shut down in his state, preventing preschools from paying staff.
It was unclear whether other multibillion-dollar grant programs, such as scientific research, highway construction and addiction recovery, would be affected. The White House did not appear to exempt disaster aid to areas like Los Angeles and western North Carolina that have been devastated by natural disasters. Trump pledged government support when he visited both places last last week.
The freeze followed the president's suspension of foreign aid, which began cutting off the supply of lifesaving medicines on Tuesday to countries around the world that depend on US development assistance.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found that Trump's approval rating has fallen slightly to 45% since he took office on Jan. 20 and majorities disapprove of his efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico and his attempt to deny citizenship to babies born in the US whose parents are not citizens.
Disputed effects
Agencies were trying to understand how to implement the new order.
The Justice Department will pause $4 billion in funding, according to a memo seen by Reuters, including aid for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Trump's Republican allies have been pushing for dramatic spending cuts, though he has promised to spare Social Security and Medicare, which make up roughly one-third of the budget. Another 11% of the budget goes toward government interest payments, which cannot be touched without triggering a default that would rock the world economy.
Democrats criticised the spending freeze as unlawful and dangerous.
"This decision is lawless, destructive, cruel," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said. "It's American families that are going to suffer most."
The US Constitution gives Congress control over spending matters, but Trump said during his campaign that he believes the president has the power to withhold money for programs he dislikes. His nominee for White House budget director, Russell Vought, who has not yet been confirmed by the Senate, headed a think tank that has argued Congress cannot require a president to spend money. Democrats sought to delay his nomination, but would need Republican support to succeed.
At least one Republican centrist, US Representative Don Bacon, said he hoped the order would be short-lived after hearing from worried constituents, including a woman who runs an after-school program that depends on federal grant money.
"We don't live in an autocracy. It's divided government. We've got separation of powers," he said.
President Donald Trump's attempt to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid was temporarily blocked in court on Tuesday, even as it sowed chaos throughout the government and stirred fears that it would disrupt programs that serve tens of millions of Americans.
Minutes before it was due to take effect at 5 pm ET (2200 GMT), a federal judge blocked Trump's spending freeze that would have affected thousands of federal grant programs. US District Judge Loren AliKhan granted a temporary halt after an advocacy group argued the freeze would devastate programs ranging from health care to road construction. The court will revisit the issue on Monday.
Trump's sweeping directive was the latest step in his dramatic effort to overhaul the federal government, which has already seen the new president halt foreign aid, freeze hiring and shutter diversity programs across dozens of agencies.
Democrats castigated the funding freeze as an illegal assault on Congress' authority over federal spending Congress' authority over federal spending and said it was already disrupting payments to doctors and preschool teachers. Republicans largely defended the order as fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to rein in the $6.75 trillion budget.
The Trump administration said programs delivering benefits directly to Americans would not be affected. But Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said his office had confirmed that doctors in all 50 states were not able to secure payments from Medicaid, which provides health coverage to 70 million low-income Americans.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that the government was aware of the Medicaid portal outage and no payments had been affected. She said the website would be back online shortly.
Health care industry officials said the interruption could cause lasting damage. "If the federal government stops pushing funds out to state Medicaid contractors, the result would be a complete debacle, with Medicaid providers going out of business," said Sara Ratner of health care company NOMI Health.
The White House said the freeze was needed to ensure federal aid programs are aligned with the Republican president's priorities, including executive orders he singed ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Wide-reaching programs
Trump's order faces another legal challenge from Democratic state attorneys general, who argued in a lawsuit that the freeze violates the US Constitution and would have a devastating effect on states that rely on federal aid for a substantial portion of their budgets.
Federal grants and loans reach into virtually every corner of Americans' lives, with hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into education, health care and anti-poverty programs, housing assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure and a host of other initiatives.
The proposed cuts could also take a heavy toll on Republican-leaning states, whose residents are significant beneficiaries of major federal programs.
The memo said Tuesday's freeze included any money intended for foreign aid and for nongovernmental organisations, among other categories. It directed 55 agencies to examine more than 2,600 grant programs.
The White House said the pause would not impact Social Security or Medicare payments to older Americans or assistance provided directly to individuals, such as some food aid and welfare programs for the poor. The Pentagon said it would not apply to its contractors.
In a second memo released on Tuesday, the White House said funds for Medicaid, farmers, small businesses, rental assistance and the Head Start preschool program would continue without interruption. But Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the reimbursement system for Head Start had been shut down in his state, preventing preschools from paying staff.
It was unclear whether other multibillion-dollar grant programs, such as scientific research, highway construction and addiction recovery, would be affected. The White House did not appear to exempt disaster aid to areas like Los Angeles and western North Carolina that have been devastated by natural disasters. Trump pledged government support when he visited both places last last week.
The freeze followed the president's suspension of foreign aid, which began cutting off the supply of lifesaving medicines on Tuesday to countries around the world that depend on US development assistance.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found that Trump's approval rating has fallen slightly to 45% since he took office on Jan. 20 and majorities disapprove of his efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico and his attempt to deny citizenship to babies born in the US whose parents are not citizens.
Disputed effects
Agencies were trying to understand how to implement the new order.
The Justice Department will pause $4 billion in funding, according to a memo seen by Reuters, including aid for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Trump's Republican allies have been pushing for dramatic spending cuts, though he has promised to spare Social Security and Medicare, which make up roughly one-third of the budget. Another 11% of the budget goes toward government interest payments, which cannot be touched without triggering a default that would rock the world economy.
Democrats criticised the spending freeze as unlawful and dangerous.
"This decision is lawless, destructive, cruel," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said. "It's American families that are going to suffer most."
The US Constitution gives Congress control over spending matters, but Trump said during his campaign that he believes the president has the power to withhold money for programs he dislikes. His nominee for White House budget director, Russell Vought, who has not yet been confirmed by the Senate, headed a think tank that has argued Congress cannot require a president to spend money. Democrats sought to delay his nomination, but would need Republican support to succeed.
At least one Republican centrist, US Representative Don Bacon, said he hoped the order would be short-lived after hearing from worried constituents, including a woman who runs an after-school program that depends on federal grant money.
"We don't live in an autocracy. It's divided government. We've got separation of powers," he said.
Trump orders federal funding freeze in possible violation of US constitution
Americas
US President Donald Trump ordered a pause on federal aid that could affect trillions of dollars earmarked for everything from education grants to medical research to small business loans starting on Tuesday. Democratic senators said the "illegal" order violates the constitution by usurping Congress's power to control the US budget.
Issued on: 28/01/2025
Constitutional challenge
The order, signed by acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Matthew Vaeth, did not make clear how such a pause on disbursements of funding will work or for how long.
Several non-profit groups have filed suit in federal court seeking a temporary halt to the order until its legality is assessed.
Federal spending included more than $3 trillion in financial assistance like grants and loans in fiscal year 2024 -- all of which was approved by Congress.
Democrats accused Trump of usurping Congress' constitutionally mandated control over budget spending as part of a broader attempt to force the government to bend to his personal will.
This has included firing independent government watchdogs and several career prosecutors who were involved in an official probe of his attempts to overthrow the 2020 election.
The Trump administration says the funding stoppage is just a way to enforce compliance with the administration's policies.
This is "certainly within the confines of the law," Leavitt said, citing the White House legal team, and claiming Trump "has the power to fire anyone" in the administration.
'Sweeping halt'
Democratic Senator Patty Murray called the White House spending order "a brazen & illegal move."
"The law is the law -- Trump must immediately reverse course, follow the requirements of the law, & ensure the nation's spending laws are implemented as Congress intended," she posted on X.
Another Democratic senator, Richard Blumenthal, said the "illegal" order will create "havoc" in medical and research facilities, which receive major government funding.
The White House memo stated that "federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities."
It stated that Social Security and Medicare benefits -- used by retirees -- were excluded from the pause.
Areas that might be impacted, it said, include "financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal" -- references to racial equality and climate change programs that Trump has vowed to overturn.
Read moreTrump orders end of government DEI programs, LGBT protections
The Sierra Club, an environmental organization, said the freeze could jeopardize funding for everything from disaster relief to home heating subsidies, safe drinking water programs, and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
"In issuing a sweeping halt to federal funding, grants and loans, Donald Trump has... immediately and significantly put Americans in danger," Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous.
(AFP)
Americas
US President Donald Trump ordered a pause on federal aid that could affect trillions of dollars earmarked for everything from education grants to medical research to small business loans starting on Tuesday. Democratic senators said the "illegal" order violates the constitution by usurping Congress's power to control the US budget.
Issued on: 28/01/2025
FRANCE24
By: NEWS WIRES
By: NEWS WIRES
President Donald Trump campaigned on remaking the US government but he is accused of a power grab. © Kent Nishimura, AFP
The healthcare system for millions of low-income Americans and rafts of other programs were thrown into disarray Tuesday after President Donald Trump ordered a freeze on federal funding, a move opponents blasted as unconstitutional.
It was Trump's latest radical step since he took office a week ago, vowing to force the US government and its employees to back his right-wing political goals or face retribution.
Potentially trillions of dollars in federal grants, loans and other aid were frozen by the White House order set to take effect Tuesday at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT), casting a shadow over everything from education to small businesses.
Online portals used to access the Medicaid health insurance program for poor families and disabled individuals were quickly inaccessible.
"This is a blatant attempt to rip away health insurance from millions of Americans overnight and will get people killed," Oregon Senator Ron Wyden posted on X.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the website would be fixed soon and that "no payments have been affected."
She defended the drastic move as part of Trump's bid to make the government "good stewards of taxpayer dollars."
The freeze is not a "blanket" stop on spending, but a tool to check that "every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken," Leavitt said.
She said the temporary pause would not impact individual Americans but would instead target programs to weed out anything "illegal."
She listed as examples racial equality and climate change programs that Trump has vowed to eradicate -- and did not answer a question about whether Medicaid recipients would be cut off.
The extraordinary measure follows a similar announcement that most US foreign aid is frozen.
The healthcare system for millions of low-income Americans and rafts of other programs were thrown into disarray Tuesday after President Donald Trump ordered a freeze on federal funding, a move opponents blasted as unconstitutional.
It was Trump's latest radical step since he took office a week ago, vowing to force the US government and its employees to back his right-wing political goals or face retribution.
Potentially trillions of dollars in federal grants, loans and other aid were frozen by the White House order set to take effect Tuesday at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT), casting a shadow over everything from education to small businesses.
Online portals used to access the Medicaid health insurance program for poor families and disabled individuals were quickly inaccessible.
"This is a blatant attempt to rip away health insurance from millions of Americans overnight and will get people killed," Oregon Senator Ron Wyden posted on X.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the website would be fixed soon and that "no payments have been affected."
She defended the drastic move as part of Trump's bid to make the government "good stewards of taxpayer dollars."
The freeze is not a "blanket" stop on spending, but a tool to check that "every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken," Leavitt said.
She said the temporary pause would not impact individual Americans but would instead target programs to weed out anything "illegal."
She listed as examples racial equality and climate change programs that Trump has vowed to eradicate -- and did not answer a question about whether Medicaid recipients would be cut off.
The extraordinary measure follows a similar announcement that most US foreign aid is frozen.
Constitutional challenge
The order, signed by acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Matthew Vaeth, did not make clear how such a pause on disbursements of funding will work or for how long.
Several non-profit groups have filed suit in federal court seeking a temporary halt to the order until its legality is assessed.
Federal spending included more than $3 trillion in financial assistance like grants and loans in fiscal year 2024 -- all of which was approved by Congress.
Democrats accused Trump of usurping Congress' constitutionally mandated control over budget spending as part of a broader attempt to force the government to bend to his personal will.
This has included firing independent government watchdogs and several career prosecutors who were involved in an official probe of his attempts to overthrow the 2020 election.
The Trump administration says the funding stoppage is just a way to enforce compliance with the administration's policies.
This is "certainly within the confines of the law," Leavitt said, citing the White House legal team, and claiming Trump "has the power to fire anyone" in the administration.
'Sweeping halt'
Democratic Senator Patty Murray called the White House spending order "a brazen & illegal move."
"The law is the law -- Trump must immediately reverse course, follow the requirements of the law, & ensure the nation's spending laws are implemented as Congress intended," she posted on X.
Another Democratic senator, Richard Blumenthal, said the "illegal" order will create "havoc" in medical and research facilities, which receive major government funding.
The White House memo stated that "federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities."
It stated that Social Security and Medicare benefits -- used by retirees -- were excluded from the pause.
Areas that might be impacted, it said, include "financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal" -- references to racial equality and climate change programs that Trump has vowed to overturn.
Read moreTrump orders end of government DEI programs, LGBT protections
The Sierra Club, an environmental organization, said the freeze could jeopardize funding for everything from disaster relief to home heating subsidies, safe drinking water programs, and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
"In issuing a sweeping halt to federal funding, grants and loans, Donald Trump has... immediately and significantly put Americans in danger," Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous.
(AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment