The Trump administration is pulling no punches since it won the Oval Office and freezing potentially trillions in federal spending might be its biggest move yet.
President Donald Trump’s budget team ordered a sweeping temporary freeze on “all federal financial assistance” spending including foreign aid that is to take effect Tuesday evening, the New York Post reported.
Social Security, Medicare and other specific programs are exempt from the freeze in the extensive memo that came from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) including but not limited to federal Pell Grants and direct student loans.
“To the extent permissible under applicable law, federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that the executive orders may implicate,” the order stated and made caveats for “case by case” scenarios, the Post reported.
Matthew Vaeth, OMB acting director instructed agencies to suspend “all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of federal financial assistance” as much as allowed by relevant laws. He also ordered a review of programs to assess the “best uses of the funding” in line with Trump’s priorities.
The order specifically targets resources that support “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies,” The Hill reported.
Naturally, Democrats are sounding off with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer leading the charge accusing Trump of “plunging the country into chaos.”
“It’s a dagger at the heart of the average American family,” Schumer raged over the order which he called “lawless, dangerous, destructive and cruel.”
Chuck Schumer claims America has currently been plunged into chaos.
I haven’t noticed. Seems all good to me. pic.twitter.com/FnyKbhPmXr
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) January 28, 2025
Democrat spending chiefs were equally enraged.
“As leaders of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, we write with extreme alarm about the Administration’s efforts to undermine Congress’s power of the purse, threaten our national security, and deny resources for states, localities, American families, and businesses,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) wrote in a letter, according to the The Hill.
“This administration’s actions will have far-reaching consequences for nearly all federal programs and activities, putting the financial security of our families, our national security, and the success of our country at risk.”
Going back to Schumer, he also argued that “Congress approved these investments and they are not optional; they are the law,” Schumer blasted. “These grants help people in red states and blue states, support families, help parents raise kids, and lead to stronger communities.”
Do they though?
It seems Americans aren’t really sure where and how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent and it sounds like that’s what this temporary freeze is all about.
“Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities,” Vaeth said.
Refreshing.
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