White House orders freeze on ‘all federal financial assistance’

President Trump’s budget office has ordered all federal agencies to temporarily pause the disbursement of “all federal financial assistance” besides Social Security and Medicare.

The order could disrupt tens of billions of dollars in payments for domestic infrastructure projects, climate initiatives, foreign aid and diversity education that is disbursed to states and local governments.

The move creates confusion in Washington and the states as officials scramble to figure out how to navigate the pause.