White House Halts Federal Grants, Loans to Align Spending with Trump's Priorities

The White House budget office has paused all federal grants and loans, according to an internal memorandum. The move could impact trillions in government spending, halting public programs that benefit millions of Americans. The pause blocks new grants and certain agency activities tied to recent executive orders,  while Social Security and Medicare remain unaffected. Office of Management and Budget acting director Matthew Vaeth stated the freeze aims to review agency programs, align funding with presidential priorities, and redirect resources away from initiatives such as foreign aid, DEI policies, and green energy projects. Federal agencies must provide details on affected programs by February 10.