A sudden federal spending freeze threatens ecosystems and public safety, sparking outrage among environmental advocates who warn of dire consequences for Americans.
A sudden pause in federal assistance is causing disarray and outrage across the country, throwing into doubt a wide range of programs that help protect Americans from disasters, provide access to clean drinking water and affordable energy, and help protect ecosystems.
The order, issued by the Office of Management and Budget, directed agencies across the government to suspend federal assistance that may not be aligned with President ‘Donald Trump‘s policies’ . The memo specifically mentioned financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, woke gender ideology, and the Green New Deal.
Donald Trump is an American businessman and politician who served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.
He began his career in real estate development and built a business empire through various ventures.
In 2015, he announced his candidacy for president and won the Republican nomination.
Trump's presidency was marked by controversy, including investigations into Russian interference in the '2016 election' and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order is causing concern among environmental advocates, who warn that it could have immediate and dire consequences for Americans if it takes effect. ‘From the White House, this is the reckless stroke of a pen,’ said Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. ‘On the ground, it’s a cold home in the dead of winter. It’s a child going hungry at school. It’s a family that can’t pay the rent. It’s higher utility costs for low-income households in every state.’
The list of programs affected by the order includes dozens across the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The pause on assistance could effectively halt the agency’s programs that help state and local governments prepare for and recover from disasters.
Samantha Montano, an assistant professor of emergency management at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said that pausing all federal grants would have a horrific effect on the US emergency management system. ‘It would make us less prepared for any disasters that happen in the future and would make it even more difficult for disaster survivors who are in the midst of trying to rebuild their lives to do so.’
The order also affects environmental programs, including state efforts to install drinking water pipes and limit air pollution, as well as disaster recovery programs.
Many legal experts say that the order is unconstitutional. ‘The law is unequivocal: Congress controls federal spending, and no executive action can bypass this authority,’ said Jillian Blanchard, director of climate change and environmental justice at Lawyers for Good Government.
While some have said that presidents can temporarily withhold spending under certain circumstances, others argue that the actions directed by the memo clearly violate constitutional boundaries. The order comes as some science, environment, and energy programs were already suspending their work due to the uncertainty surrounding federal funding.
The consequences of the order are far-reaching, affecting not only environmental programs but also public safety and national security. The pause on assistance could leave smaller nonprofits unable to make payroll or complete their programs, while state agencies and nonprofit organizations have already been shut out of a federal system for accessing grant money.
In North Carolina, where communities are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Quality said that the agency is reviewing and evaluating the memo and its potential impacts. Federal funds provide a significant portion of DEQ’s operating budget as well as billions of dollars for North Carolina communities.
The order to freeze assistance reflects some of the goals of Project 2025, a policy blueprint written by conservatives for a second Trump administration that sought drastic funding cuts and reorganization of the federal government. Russell Vought, one of the blueprint’s coauthors, is Trump’s nominee to lead the office that issued the new order.
The list includes over 2,500 programs at agencies across the government, including more than 400 programs under the US Department of Agriculture, from emergency food assistance to support for farmers markets and water-saving initiatives.
