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A memo that ordered a near-blanket funding freeze for federal grants, loans, and assistance programs has been rescinded by the White House.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

President Donald Trump’s White House has rescinded a memo that ordered a pause on many federal grant, loan, and financial assistance programs.

The memo, sent out from the Office of Management and Budget on Monday, had ordered a funding freeze that was set to begin this week, at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

As was previously reported, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan blocked the funding freeze mere minutes before it was due to take effect.

The judge’s order also grants an administrative stay on the order until 5 p.m. Monday.

Then, on Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget sent out a two-sentence notice rescinding the memo.

“OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded,” the notice read, which was published by journalist Marisa Kabas on the Bluesky social media app. “If you have questions about implementing the president’s executive orders, please contact your agency general counsel.”

The White House’s press secretary, however, later posted on X that the memo’s cancellation “is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze.”

“It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo,” wrote Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary. “Why? To end any confusion created by the court’s injunction.”

If the funding freeze is allowed to go forward, impacts could be felt in the world of broadband.

Programs impacted could include projects supported through the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and also the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).

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