The White House announced on Tuesday (January 28) that the Trump administration will suspend federal grants and loans, and initiate a comprehensive review to rid the communist ideology.
Matthew Vaeth, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget at the White House, wrote in a memorandum, “Using federal resources to promote Marxist equality, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayers’ money, and these funds cannot improve the daily lives of our target audience.”
Vaeth pointed out that all expenditures must comply with President Trump’s executive orders, which aim to revoke progressive measures related to transgender rights, environmental justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
According to the Associated Press, the frozen funds involved in this action could amount to tens of billions of dollars, leading to widespread disruptions in medical research, educational programs, and other projects. Even grants that have been approved but not yet disbursed will be suspended.
On his first day in office, Trump issued a series of executive orders aimed at ending DEI programs in the government, Biden’s “green new deal” policies, and recognizing only two genders, male and female. As part of the executive orders, the new administration will not allow federal funds to be used to promote “gender ideology,” a broad term often used to refer to any advocacy of non-traditional gender views.
Vaeth wrote in the memorandum, “Every institution must conduct a comprehensive analysis of its federal financial aid programs to identify which programs, projects, and activities may be affected by any presidential executive orders.”
The release of the memorandum on Monday sparked backlash from Democrats, issuing an “emergency alert” against the Trump administration’s memorandum to suspend federal funding.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned the legality of the move in a statement on Monday evening, saying the move “withholds critical funding for nearly all of the community programs supported nationwide.”
Schumer said, “These investments have been approved by Congress; they are not optional—they are law. These grants help people in red states and blue states, support families, help parents raise children, and promote stronger community development.”
According to the memorandum, health insurance and social security benefits will not be affected by this suspension. However, the memorandum does not specify whether the suspension will impact medical assistance programs, food stamps, disaster relief, and other programs.
The memorandum states that the implementation of the suspension should be carried out within the “extent permitted by applicable law.”
Vaeth stated in Monday’s memorandum that the temporary freeze will take effect on Tuesday (January 28) at 5 p.m.