Local organizations feel immediate impact of federal funding freeze

As executive orders from the Trump administration continue to roll out, a memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Monday night has ordered a freeze on all federal aid. The move halts grants and loans issued by the federal government, potentially crippling programs relied upon by millions across the country—including those here in Forsyth County. In the two-page memo obtained by The Chronicle, Matthew Vaeth, acting director of OMB, directed all federal agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of programs, projects, and activities affected by Trump’s executive orders. “The executive orders, including but not limited to financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the Green New Deal,” Vaeth wrote. “This temporary pause will provide the administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding consistent with the law and the president’s priorities.” According to the OMB, in 2024 the federal government spent more than $3 trillion on financial assistance programs. While Social Security and Medicare remain unaffected, the pause has implications on school lunch and breakfast programs, Section 8 rental assistance, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Title I education grants, Head Start, and more. The freeze,...