White House lifts freeze on public aid amid legal battles
American media reported that after two days, the White House lifted the order to freeze public assistance. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget sent a notice of this decision to all departments and federal agencies.
Democratic Senator Patty Murray described it as a "significant victory for the American people," emphasizing that citizens' voices were crucial. The Democrat emphasized that the Trump administration's actions, driven by a mix of incompetence, intentional cruelty, and blatant disregard for the law, had inflicted significant harm and caused widespread disorder for millions in the past two days, with the situation still unfolding.
On the other hand, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that "Americans resisted, and Donald Trump backed down."
On Monday, the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House, Matthew J. Vaeth, ordered all federal agencies to halt all spending on grants, loans, and federal assistance. The decision could have affected trillions of dollars in expenditures and, according to Democrats, was illegal.
The effects of the freeze
The decision to freeze could have impacted transfers to state governments, social programs, support for small businesses, disaster relief, farmer subsidies, and research grants. The goal was to review these programs for compliance with President Trump's priorities.
Judge Loren L. AliKhan ruled that the administration did not fully understand the extent of the restrictions, which required more clarity. Attorneys general from 22 states also filed a lawsuit to block the White House decision.
What about aid to Ukraine?
A decree published on the White House website indicates that Trump has suspended all U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days. The goal of this decision is to evaluate their compliance with the president's foreign policy.
The document underscored that U.S. foreign aid must align entirely with the president's foreign policy, though the law permits certain exceptions.
Source: PAP, WP News
