The Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to subject hundreds of grant programs that account for trillions of dollars in spending to several ideological litmus tests, including whether the programs provide funding or support for abortion, “illegal aliens” or diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The directive issued on Monday by the Office of Management and Budget is part of a swift and sweeping effort by the new administration to halt federal spending out of step with President Trump’s agenda.
In its instructions to federal agencies, the White House budget office told officials to answer a series of questions about each grant program that could determine whether it continues to receive funding. One asked: “Does this program promote gender ideology?” Another sought to ascertain if the program was sending money overseas. A third questioned if the program could “impose an undue burden” on the exploitation of domestic energy sources.
While that review is continuing, the budget office directed federal agencies to pause any programs that could violate a series of executive orders related to those areas issued by Mr. Trump.
Democrats called the move an abuse of executive power, saying it trampled on Congress’s authority over federal spending. On Tuesday afternoon, the freeze was temporarily halted by a federal judge in the District of Columbia in response to a lawsuit filed by a liberal advocacy group.
The announcement of the spending pause late Monday threw the federal government into chaos as agencies and nonprofits sought to determine whether they could continue carrying out basic functions. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, defended what she described as a review of federal spending and promised that direct aid to individuals, such as Social Security and Medicare, would not be affected.
Still, the budget office appears to be scrutinizing a wide variety of federal grant programs, including some that no longer seem to be active such as Covid-era assistance efforts, according to a 52-page list of instructions distributed to federal agencies that included 2,600 programs. A spokeswoman for the budget office did not answer questions about how the agency selected which programs would be included in the list.
The office’s requests for information range from Defense Department research on chemical and biological weapons defense to a Justice Department project on preventing the trafficking of young women. They also include a program meant to install broadband internet around the nation and another that provides free groceries to low-income women and children.
The Appalachian Regional Commission — which was created to spur economic growth in one of the United States’ poorest areas — was told to provide information about its grant programs. So was the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Fund, which was established by Congress in 1986 and named after the conservative former senator and presidential candidate from Arizona.
The office also instructed the Department of Homeland Security to answer questions about a grant that reimburses state and local law enforcement offices for guarding the president’s private residences.
Agencies were told to reply by Feb. 7.
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