OMB Directive to Pause Disbursement of Federal Financial Assistance
On January 27, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a directive to federal agencies. Then on January 27, the White House rescinded that order. The reversal stated that the original memo was “rescinded” and directed questions about implementation to agency and department lawyers, according to people familiar with the matter. The change came after a federal judge temporarily blocked the directive, and came after the push drew bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who worried it could imperil anti-poverty initiatives, medical research and other critical services