NWLC Responds to Trump’s Authoritarian Move to Pause Federal Spending

Washington, D.C. – Last night, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo purporting to halt all federally supported loan and grant programs. Since its release last night, the memo has created chaos, confusion, and an immediate public backlash. Although OMB has tried to walk back the scope of the memo, NWLC is not assured that it won’t impact programs across the country serving women and families, including Head Start, SNAP, and Medicaid.

Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s dangerous, cruel, and lawless decision to pause federal spending threatens millions of women and families who rely on federally funded programs for food, housing, child care, health care, and other essential services. The scope and harm of this order is unprecedented in modern American history, already causing chaos and uncertainty for service providers who support vulnerable communities.

“Many Americans don’t realize that the programs helping them afford basic needs—like groceries, rent, and caregiving—depend on federal funding, meaning that this pause will impact millions of people, including people who support Trump. Congress has an obligation to immediately stop this extraordinary and illegal power grab; and the only “pause” that should happen is on the confirmation process of OMB nominee Russell Vought.”