WASHINGTON — The White House’s budget office ordered government agencies to pause grants and loans on a host of government programs, the latest in a freeze on federal action that has upended health agencies.
The internal memo, sent on Monday, explicitly targets gender-affirming care and global financial assistance, citing two of President Trump’s priorities during his campaign and his initial storm of executive orders on Inauguration Day. Its broad language about “grants and loans” could ensnare a number of other federal health and assistance programs, health care and legal experts speculated late Monday.
The memo from Matthew Vaeth, acting director for the White House Office of Management and Budget, instructs each agency to analyze all their financial assistance programs and assess which ones fall afoul of the series of executive orders Trump issued this last week. In particular, programs related to foreign financial aid, nongovernmental organizations, diversity and inclusion, and “woke gender ideology,” must be temporarily paused for a review, the memo stated.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in