Donald Trump's blanket funding freeze causes chaos across US, world

Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order freezing trillions of dollars in funding for federal programs. Critics argue that this move is illegal. Almost all federal programs have had their funding cut off, and the government will assess whether these programs support social issues that Trump opposes.

Officials have been instructed to review whether these programs support abortion, "gender ideology," diversity initiatives, or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Matthew Weiss, acting director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, stated, "Using federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and Green New Deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer money and does not improve the daily lives of the people we serve."

Funding has been halted for numerous programs, including preschool education, meals-on-wheels, school lunch programs, and cancer research. Programs supporting victims of domestic violence, subsidizing heating for low-income individuals, and assisting new mothers with breastfeeding have also been affected. Furthermore, the online portal for Medicaid, a federal healthcare program for low-income Americans, is inaccessible due to the funding suspension. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden stated, "This is a blatant attempt to strip millions of Americans of their healthcare overnight, which will result in deaths."

Trump's ally, House Speaker Mike Johnson, called the freeze "common sense." He believes these reviews will be quick, stating, "We want to ensure the new president's executive orders are fully complied with." In addition, funding for all foreign aid programs has also been frozen, leading to a halt in the distribution of AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis medications abroad. An AIDS program established by George W. Bush, credited with saving 25 million lives, is among those impacted. Meanwhile, staff at the United Nations Refugee Agency have been instructed not to order any new supplies except in emergencies, as they face massive funding cuts.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, called Trump's actions "illegal." He stated, "I know this is a challenging time, and the Trump administration is trying to confuse the American people. That's why it's so important that we speak truthfully." Hours after the suspension was announced, a federal judge blocked the order. Judge Loren L. AliKhan questioned whether the Trump administration was aware of the consequences of its actions. She stated, "It does not appear that the federal government is currently fully aware of the full scope of the programs that will be affected by the suspension."

The White House is utilizing the president's power to impound funds to halt spending. Impoundment allows the president to stop spending approved by Congress. However, legal critics say it is illegal to unilaterally or permanently impound funds. Instead, the president needs to submit proposed cuts to Congress for approval. This is typically only done when federal programs are underfunded. Trump posted ten times on social media but made no mention of the funding freeze.