Farm groups and recipients of federal grants and loans are trying to determine the impact of a sweeping directive from the Trump administration to freeze disbursements of federal financial assistance.
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TheWhiteHousehasorderedthereviewof2,600programsacrossthefederalgovernment,includingdozensatUSDA,toassessthemfortheircompliancewithPresidentDonaldTrump’sintentiontoridthegovernmentof“greennewdeal”spending,specialassistanceforminoritiesandotherprogramsthatmaycontravenehiswishes.
Thereviewwassupposedtobeaccompaniedbyapauseinfunding,but afederaljudgetemporarilyblockedthesuspensionofpaymentsminutesbeforeitwastogointoeffect. TheOfficeofManagmentandBudgetreleasedaQ&Ainanattempttoclarifythefundingpause,sayingthatindividualrecipientsofassistancewouldnotbeaffected,includingfarmersandrecipientsofSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgrambenefits.
Separately,therealsowasconsiderableconfusiongoingintoTuesdayamongfarmgroupsabouttheimpactonU.S.foodaidofaStateDepartmentdecisiontosuspendforeignaidfor90d
