'I have now been asked and answered this question four times'
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President Donald Trump’s White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that federal individual assistance will not be affected by a freeze on federal grants and loans.
"I have now been asked and answered this question four times," Leavitt told reporters Tuesday during her first White House press briefing on Tuesday. "To individuals at home who receive direct assistance from the federal government: You will not be impacted by this federal freeze."
Programs including Social Security benefits, Medicare, food stamps, welfare benefits and other assistance going directly to individuals will not be impacted under the pause, according to Leavitt.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to members of the press in the grounds of the White House in Washington, D.C., on January 22, 2025. (Getty)
"There is no uncertainty in this building … this is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," Leavitt said.
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on Monday issuing a pause on all federal grants and loans aiming to eradicate "wokeness" and the "weaponization of government" to improve government efficiency.
"Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal," the memo, obtained by Fox Digital, reads.
The pause takes effect at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday.
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
