Trump Backs Off Freezing Federal Funds--Or Not

Keep up the pressure.

Flag booth at a Trump rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa in October 2021.

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As we reported Tuesday, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on Monday temporarily suspending “all federal financial assistance,” freezing a wide range of federal programs, including grants and loans. Read the memo here.

A federal judge in the District of Columbia temporarily blocked the order on Tuesday afternoon. However, without additional guidance from Republicans, it’s still unclear what will remain of the order and what might ultimately be disregarded.

As of this writing on Wednesday evening, the New York Times reported that the Trump Administration has rescinded the freeze on federal funds. The Washington Post reported that the Trump White House rescinded its freeze on federal grants, reversing course.

The Post further reported that: the budget office came under immense pressure over the impacts of a sudden pause in key government spending.

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Photo taken at a Trump rally in Newton, Iowa, in January 2024, shortly before the Iowa Caucuses.

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Today is a win for all those who flooded members of Congress, spoke to the press, posted to social media, and otherwise stood up for the rule of law. However, we need to realize that the memo is likely an initial extreme position that will allow Trump to negotiate from, and when the actual cuts are made in the future they will “seem” more reasonable. They will still be draconian and cost lives and livelihoods, just not so many. We have to keep fighting.

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As noted above, while the New York Times and Washington Post report that the freeze has been rescinded, Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary says not so fast.

We’ll see how this plays out.

But certainly, the architect of this mess, Russell Vought, President Donald Trump’s pick to direct the Office of Management and Budget, and the main author of Project 2025, should not be confirmed by the Senate.

As we suggested in our last column, here in Iowa we need to hold our governor and our members of Congress responsible, as they are Trump’s enablers.

We also suggested that:

“This is not the time to feel disheartened--it’s time to fight. The Democratic National Convention is electing leadership on Saturday. This is a perfect opportunity for those running to demonstrate their ability to hold Republicans accountable. And for the rest of us to judge them accordingly.

Fight for smart, constitutional government as you talk and act in your communities. Make sure you’ve registered your outrage with Senators Grassley and Ernst and your member of Congress. Call Governor Reynolds’ office. Join groups that are engaging in moving America forward and work hand in hand with them. They stand ready to help you put your shoulder to the wheel. If you have the financial means, please consider a donation to these groups. And let the Iowa Democratic Party know that you expect them to be swinging at Republicans as their party intentionally wreaks havoc on ordinary Iowans.”

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I’m a proud member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please check out our work here. Subscribe! Become a paid subscriber if you can afford it. Please and thank you. We need you. Thanks for being part of the team! Want to buy me lunch or a cup of coffee? Venmo @Robert-Leonard-238. My friend Spencer Dirks and I have a podcast titled the Iowa Revolution. Check it out! We can get ornery. And have fun! I also publish Cedar Creek Nature Notes, about Violet the Dog and my adventures on our morning walks at Cedar Bluffs Natural Area in Mahaska County, Iowa.

Here is the Zoom link for this month’s Office Lounge for paid subscribers. It’s always held on the last Friday of the month at noon, except for November and December. I hope to see you there on January 31.