President Trump signs new executive orders, including a freeze on federal aid

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - The White House has put a freeze on some federal grants and loans, according to an internal memo sent by the White House Budget Office on Monday.

After a lot of backlash over the move, the office released another memo clarifying which programs are affected on Tuesday.

The pause targets programs addressed in President Donald Trump's recent executive orders. The administration says that includes funds for immigration, foreign aid, and climate programs.

Social security, medicare benefits, and assistance provided directly to individuals will not be impacted.

The memo states money for small businesses, farmers, Pell Grants, and Head Start programs will not be withheld. It also says the freeze could be as short as a day while the administration reviews agency programs.

The pause is slated to take effect Tuesday evening, but several non-profits filed a lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order against the freeze. They claim the pause in funding will keep some organizations from paying their employees and other obligations.

In response to the directive to freeze federal aid, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) issued the following statement:

"This morning, I'm hearing from folks in every corner of the state—Mayors, county supervisors, community organizations, and Arizonans are worried about how this will cut off our law enforcement, meals for seniors and school children, projects to respond to and prevent floods and wildfires, housing and healthcare support for every day people. 

President Trump's recklessness is going to harm Arizonans."

Tom Horne, State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Arizona Department of Education (AZED), issued a statement regarding the freeze:

"We have received notice from the U.S. Department of Education indicating that this pause does not affect funding for Title I economically disadvantaged schools, special education funding or other formula grants. Nevertheless, because there are many details yet to be clarified, as a contingency I have directed this department to draw down the funds needed during the two-week period covered by the federal pause. Like all state education agencies throughout the country, we are expecting further details from the federal government on the implications of this pause so we can respond accordingly.

This pause does not affect the $6 million to be allocated to the Isaac Elementary District. Our department is already processing those funds."

Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also issued a statement Tuesday in response to the federal aid freezing saying:

"Donald Trump's order to halt federal assistance and grant funding will have immediate and deeply destructive consequences for recovery efforts, law enforcement funding, health care access, and so much more. The withholding of vital funds will hurt every community across the country – red, blue, rural, urban, and everything in between – and throw them into chaos. 

Law enforcement relying on federal dollars to support their equipment and critical training don't know if those dollars will continue to flow. Seniors counting on federal assistance to help pay their rent and fill their medications are left without an answer. Families who lost their homes in the recent Los Angeles fires wondering if FEMA and other disaster assistance will abruptly stop. Parents expecting to be at work tomorrow wondering if their child care provider's doors will still be open and for how long.

Congress – Republicans and Democrats – approved this funding to meet the needs of ordinary Americans. It is the law. It is not optional. 

Trump's impoundment of these funds is part of a broader effort to seize control of every aspect of government and remake it in his flawed image. Along with the unlawful firing of government watchdogs, his firing of career prosecutors, and his pardoning of violent felons, he seeks to transform America into a one party, one man state. 

Senate Republicans must join in condemning this reckless move by the president, or risk losing Congress' most effective check on a run-away executive — the power of the purse — for good."