Trump Administration Rescinds Order Freezing Federal Aid

The temporary pause on federal grants and loans, which was halted by a federal judge before going into effect on Tuesday, caused widespread confusion across the country.

Trump dances at a campaign event at Dane Manufacturing.

Charlie Neibergall/AP

The White House rescinded on Wednesday its order to freeze federal aid, reversing course from earlier in the week when the administration instituted a sweeping review of federal spending that was unclear in its scope.

In a memo first reported by The Washington Post, the White House Office of Management and Budget said simply that its earlier guidance “is rescinded.” The freeze was temporarily on hold by a federal judge, who stepped in just minutes before the memo was scheduled to take effect Tuesday afternoon.

The Trump White House disputed that the memo was an about-face, but acknowledged that its original guidance had been pulled back.