Trump administration targets thousands of programs in funding freeze

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The Trump administration is spurring confusion as it seeks to implement a sweeping freeze of federal assistance, undermining laws Congress has enacted in recent years. The White House budget office circulated a 52-page document ordering agencies to answer 14 questions by the end of next week for each program that “has funding or activities planned through March 15.” The spreadsheet covers thousands of programs, including many that send assistance each month to U.S. households, like food aid to “very low-income” people age 60 and over, the home energy program that helps cover winter heating costs for the poorest households and the WIC program that aids low-income pregnant mothers and babies. Yet hours later, the Office of Management and Budget released a follow-up memo explaining that benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and student loans would not be affected by the freeze—nor would Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security payments. 


Trump administration targets thousands of programs in funding freeze Instructions for Federal Financial Assistance Program Analysis in Support of M-25-13