Latest news with #OMBMemorandumM-25-13
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House backs down on funding freeze
Stewart HuntingtonICT Native leaders hailed a move by President Donald Trump's budget office Wednesday to rescind an order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across Indian Country and beyond. 'I am happy for every federally recognized tribe, as well as states and organizations that this has affected in which the people that need services are going to be provided,' said OJ Semens, Sicangu Lakota, executive director of the Coalition of Large Tribes. SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. The Monday evening order freezing the funds from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for tribes, states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington, and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldn't be subject to a pause in funding. Late Tuesday, a federal judge issued an injunction halting the order until Monday, Feb. 3. The White House issued the order rescinding the funding freeze in a terse memo Wednesday that leaves unanswered whether the funding freezes would be reinstated. 'OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded,' it stated. The memo was signed by Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget. White House posts on social media, however, indicated the memo had been suspended but not the administration's efforts to cut spending it opposes. And some reports continued to surface of difficulty accessing funds that had been coalition, which represents some 20 Native nations with large land bases, demanded that the administration declare 'that any Federal funding going to Tribal governments or entities serving Tribal citizens is a legitimate Federal expense and need not be the subject of any further justification or paperwork by any Federal agency.' The coalition further cited what it said were repeated difficulties tribal entities had accessing federal funding – even before Monday's funding freeze. 'Since January 23, 2025, tribal governments and tribal organizations that serve tribal citizens have encountered escalating problems with Federal accounts suddenly and without explanation 'zeroed out' and our access to Federal payment systems shut-off,' according to the coalition's resolution demanding the White House reverse course. 'These freezes were not limited in any way, and included everything – public safety funds, healthcare funds, waste management funds, child protective service funds, etc.," the statement said. "Most COLT Tribes are more than fifty percent funded by Federal dollars, meaning our tribal governments will have to shut down in days or weeks if the broad freeze persists, which would be devastating to our Tribal citizens.' Semens said that his group had been in contact with White House officials and others before the order rescinding the funding pause was issued. 'We are very proactive reaching out to our congressional people, reaching out to the cabinet nominees,' Semens said. 'We are very, very proactive in ensuring that the individuals know what large land-based and treaty tribes are and need.' Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas said before the order rescinding the funding pause that the freeze on federal funding was not what the nation needed – or wanted. 'This is not what the people voted for, whichever party they supported,' said Davids, Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. 'America wants better prices at the supermarket and safe communities.' Semens said that, while the latest series of events might be a new experience for tribes, there is always a learning curve with a new administration. 'We don't care whether they're on the Republican side or the Democratic side, we have worked through administrations,' he said. 'And every time there is a change in administrations, it comes down to us educating them on their treaty obligations. And you've got to remember, they pull in thousands of people and put them in jobs. And most of these people don't even know Indians exist. So it's a continual educational process that we have to go through.' Other lawmakers hailed the apparent White House about-face. "This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this country—real people made a difference by speaking out," said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington. "Still, the Trump administration – through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law – caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours which is still ongoing." Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump White House rescinds federal funding freeze
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — In a two-sentence memo released Wednesday, the White House has rescinded their drive to pause all federal funding and grants. 'OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have any questions about implementing the President's Executive Orders, please contact your agency's General Consul,' the memo read. What's next in the Trump federal funding pause. An ISU professor weighs in On Monday, the Trump Administration, on their 8th day in office, threw Washington and the rest of the nation into chaos as they ordered a pause to all federal grants and funding. That meant grants to cities, nonprofits, health organizations and others were to be stopped pending a review by the Office of Management and Budget. The rescission comes one day after, several state attorneys general banded together to announce a multistate lawsuit to block the pause and a federal judge put a stay on the memo. The suit, which likely would have been filed in federal court, sought to have President Donald Trump's order declared unconstitutional. The original memo's announcement was met Tuesday with shock and angst by Democrats who were worried that food stamps, Medicare as well as funding for veterans' benefits and to fix lead pipes could be paused or even eliminated. The White House, during a press briefing on Tuesday, said no, that programs where people were receiving individual assistance like Social Security and Medicare as well as student loans weren't affected. Agencies were to submit their reports to the OMB by Feb. 10. Specifically, the original memo singled out 'Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the Green New Deal.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during the Tuesday press briefing — her first of the new administration — that the pause will not affect 'individual assistance,' such as Social Security benefits and welfare benefits. This story will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Confusion abounds in Delaware after Trump administration rescinds memo on federal grants pause
Confusion abounds in Delaware after Trump administration rescinds memo on federal grants pause Show Caption Hide Caption Judge halts President Trump's pause on federal aid money A judge paused the Donald Trump's order to "temporary pause" certain federal assistance until at least Feb. 3, when another hearing will be held. After lawsuits were filed to stop President Donald Trump's order pausing federal grants to states and cities, the memo about the president's order was rescinded Wednesday afternoon. It's unclear Wednesday afternoon how that will affect Delaware programs and fund recipients, given the evolving nature of The White House order and its implications. The 2-day-old order, officially known as OMB Memorandum M-25-13, said federal agencies "must temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance." After several lawsuits were filed, including one involving Delaware, a considerable amount of backlash, and a federal judge temporarily blocking the administration's policy, the federal Office of Management and Budget released a letter Wednesday canceling the memo. "OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded," said the memo signed by Matthew J. Vaeth, the Office of Management and Budget's acting director. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X Wednesday afternoon that the rescission of the memo was not a rescission of the federal funding freeze. This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction. The President's EO's on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented. — Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 29, 2025 "It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo," she wrote on X. "Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction. The President's EO on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented." More: Trump administration rescinds freeze on federal grants, ending spending feud with Congress Delaware impact State and local agencies, as well as other groups that receive federal grants, were trying to understand the depths of the order's impact when it was rescinded on Wednesday. Initially, the grants' halting appeared to mean there would be reductions, or an ending, of support services in Delaware for those who have been sexually assaulted, said Sheila Bravo, Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement's president and CEO. It also would have meant the closing of shelters, senior serving programs, and abruption in services that provide assistance and support in areas such as mental health, health care, food, and child care, she said. Bravo said it was hard to tell when these services would have been affected since that depends on the organization's financial reserves to cover gaps. "We are waiting to get some more information to understand implications," Bravo said. It's not just nonprofits that the order impacts. State and local programs would also have been hurt. Some of the programs in New Castle County included: The Housing Choice Voucher Program has assisted 1,402 families with rental assistance so far this January for a total of $1,334.942. Of the families housed, 398 were households headed by seniors and 537 had a disabled head of household. Home Repair is a Community Development Block Grant, which is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and helps with emergency home repair. New Castle County currently has 60 units needing emergency home repairs that are in the pipeline to be completed. The county completed 74 units during the last budget year. Continuum of Care Funds, which awarded the New Castle County Hope Center $92,160 for eight permanent supportive housing units at the Hope Center. Prior to receiving this help, a county official said the people were sleeping outside, in cars or in emergency shelters. "They are chronically unhoused, meaning they been unhoused for more than 1 year or have had repeated episodes of homelessness and have a disabling mental health condition," said Carrie Casey, the county's general manager of the Department of Community Services. "We have also received an additional allocation of $122,000 for next year." Coalition lawsuit forges ahead The lawsuit filed by Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and other Democratic attorneys general to stop President Trump's order will continue — despite the memo about the order being rescinded. "For now, the lawsuit is unaffected," said Mat Marshall, a Delaware Department of Justice spokesperson. "This is good news, but it's still too early to declare victory." More: Delaware DOJ moves forward with lawsuit against President Trump's federal grant freeze Given this is a voluntary policy rescission by the White House and not an enforced stay or a disavowal of policy, Marshall said the coalition will "forge ahead." The coalition filed its lawsuit in federal court in Rhode Island on Tuesday and a judge there is scheduled to hold a hearing on it at 3 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 29). A federal judge in Washington D.C. had temporarily blocked the administration's policy after a coalition of advocacy groups filed a similar lawsuit. Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
White House rescinds order freezing federal grants and loans
The White House's budget office has rescinded an order authorising a federal freeze on hundreds of billions of dollars in grants and loans, according to US media comes after a judge temporarily halted the order on Tuesday, on the same day it was due to come into order had been paused until next Monday, after a legal challenge by a group of organisations representing grant recipients.A letter published by some media outlets dated 29 January simply stated "OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded." This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
