As Democrats raised concerns about a temporary federal spending freeze, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration’s decision, stating it would not affect welfare benefits, Social Security, or Medicare. The freeze, later blocked by a federal judge, aimed to ensure spending aligned with the president’s executive orders.

Nonprofits like Meals on Wheels scrambled to understand the freeze’s impact, as a memo from the Office of Management and Budget required agencies to report on affected programs and appoint officials to ensure compliance with administration priorities.

Despite claims that direct aid would remain unaffected, Democrats pointed out disruptions to various programs. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) warned that a domestic violence center might close, while Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) noted local agencies had been cut off, and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reported nationwide Medicaid portal outages.

Leavitt later claimed no payments were impacted but acknowledged the portal issues. The legality of the freeze under the Impoundment Control Act has been questioned, as critics argue it does not allow for freezes to evaluate program alignment with presidential policies. Experts warn that prolonged freezes could lead to severe consequences.