The Trump administration sought to calm the waters Tuesday after stakeholders around the country and overseas, Washington lobbyists and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle scrambled to make sense of a sweeping directive to hit the pause button on federal aid programs.
The White House budget office on Tuesday clarified the scope of Monday’s pause of federal financial assistance, saying it will not affect a number of specific aid programs.
Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, federal student loans, Pell Grants, Head Start, Section 8 rental assistance and aid to small businesses and farmers appear to be exempt, and the official reiterated that Medicare and Social Security would not be affected, nor would “similar” direct benefit programs.
