Trump Administration Freeze on Federal Grants
The Trump administration’s freeze on government spending was paused by a federal judge just minutes before it was set to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, capping a day of confusion as news of the spending freeze and its impact spread. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C. blocked the directive for one week. A coalition of organizations filed a motion for a temporary restraining order on Tuesday.
Inside Higher Ed reported the White House Office of Management and Budget directed all federal agencies late Monday to pause any grants and loans they supervised until February 10 in order to ensure that federal spending aligns with the president’s priorities, such as cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and illegal immigration. OMB specifically said it was aiming to cease any funding to activities that “may be implicated by the executive orders, including but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal,” according to the memo.
Initially, higher education leaders were concerned the freeze would include Pell Grants, students loans and other campus-based financial aid programs. Confusion reigned for most of the day before Education Department officials confirmed Pell Grants, student loans and Federal Work-Study would not be subject to the pause. But STEM research and student success initiatives were among the thousands of programs whose funding would have been paused until at least Feb. 10.
Below is a selection of news stories regarding the spending freeze:
Higher Ed Alarmed by Trump’s Plan to Freeze Federal Grants
Inside Higher Ed (January 29, 2025)
‘Institutional Destruction': A Federal-Funding Pause Sent Shockwaves Through Higher Ed
The Chronicle of Higher Education (January 29, 2025)
At 11th Hour, Judge Blocks Trump’s Pause on Federal Funding
Higher Ed Dive (January 29, 2025)
Uncertainty Causes Chaos as Trump Threatens Funding Pause for Schools
The New York Times (January 29, 2025)
A 'Constitutional Crisis?' Democrats, Republicans Spar Over Donald Trump's Spending Order
USA Today (January 29, 2025)
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration Freeze on Federal Grants and Loans
The Associated Press (January 29, 2025)
A Federal Funding Pause Sent Shockwaves Through Higher Ed. Here’s What We Know.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (January 28, 2025)
The Federal Funding Pause Does Not Apply to Student Loans and Pell Grants
The New York Times (January 28, 2025)
White House Orders Pause of Federal Financial-Assistance Programs
The Wall Street Journal (January 28, 2025)