Thursday Briefing: Trump Reverses Spending Freeze

President Trump speaking at the White House, yesterday. Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times

Trump reversed an order to freeze federal funds

The White House yesterday walked back President Trump’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order on Tuesday after it caused mass confusion across the country.

The Trump administration had struggled to explain the funding freeze, a decision that interrupted the Medicaid system, which provides health care to millions of low-income Americans.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote on social media that “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze.” She said the president’s executive orders on federal funding “remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.”

The decision by the Trump administration to pull the directive was a significant reversal. Democratic leaders celebrated the announcement.

Grilling: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for health secretary, faced tough questions and struggled to convince senators that he was not against vaccines during confirmation hearings in Washington. Kennedy — who has been vocally skeptical of vaccines, supports unorthodox diets and has spouted conspiracy theories — is one of Trump’s most polarizing choices.

More on Trump

• Trump signed his first bill into law, directing the authorities to detain and deport immigrants who are accused of specific crimes if they are in the country illegally.

• Steven Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, met with Israel’s prime minister yesterday and was also expected to visit Gaza.

• Prosecutors moved to drop the classified documents case against two of Trump’s co-defendants.

• The Trump administration offered roughly two million federal workers the option to resign.

• Howard Lutnick, whom Trump picked to lead the Commerce Department, said he would take a tough stance on tech sales to China.

• The president has moved with lightning speed to purge officials he deems disloyal and rid agencies of policies he considers liberal.