The White House reassured individuals who receive federal financial aid that their benefits will continue during the administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Social Security, Medicare, food stamps (SNAP), welfare and other benefits will continue. 

“This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump Administration,” Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, said.

The Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo the night of Monday, Jan. 27, instructing all departments and agencies to review all programs to ensure they align with President Trump’s priorities and recent executive orders.

“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and Green New Deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” the memo stated. 

Congress has already approved the money being withheld, leading Democrats on Capitol Hill to call it illegal and unconstitutional.

“This decision is lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel. It’s illegal. It’s unconstitutional,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said.  

However, Republicans said it’s acceptable. They claim the hold is only temporary and that Trump will release it once the review is over.

“He said he’s gonna review it. He’s not halting. He’s reviewing it, and in a certain amount of time, he’s gonna release it again,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said. “That’s what he ran on. He ran on looking at everything he possibly could to evaluate where the money’s going.” 

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Congress will review the grants and loans on a case-by-case basis to determine if it’s within the executive branch’s authority.

“There are some areas where he may be able to halt those. There are other areas that are restricted,” Rounds explained. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, 23 state attorneys general sued to block Trump’s funding halt.