In a swift reversal, the Trump administration on Wednesday abandoned its proposed freeze on hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid following legal setbacks and widespread opposition. However, officials confirmed they still intend to cut funding for programs opposed by President Donald Trump.
The White House budget office rescinded a memo issued late Monday that had ordered the pause in grant and loan payments. The reversal came just before a federal court hearing on a lawsuit filed by Democratic state attorneys general seeking to block the freeze. A White House official stated the move was aimed at preempting legal challenges.
Despite the reversal, U.S. District Judge John McConnell, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, proceeded with the hearing. He indicated he was inclined to temporarily block the aid freeze but did not issue an immediate ruling. McConnell noted that the states had convinced him of the "inappropriate effects" of the now-rescinded directive, which he said would likely continue despite the administration's reversal.
The freeze, initially intended to review and halt funds to programs Trump has sought to eliminate—such as diversity initiatives, green energy projects, and foreign aid—had already been temporarily blocked by another federal judge in Washington handling a separate legal challenge from advocacy groups.
At the White House, Trump announced plans to prepare 30,000 beds at the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba to detain migrants as part of his immigration crackdown. The administration also signaled it would target pro-Palestinian student protesters for deportation by revoking their student visas, raising concerns that individuals in the U.S. legally could be targeted for their political views.
Trump's hardline immigration policies have drawn criticism from Democrats, who accuse him of repeatedly breaking the law since returning to power. However, his Republican allies have largely supported his agenda. The Republican-controlled Senate has confirmed all of Trump's appointees, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who narrowly secured confirmation despite allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.
Hegseth has aggressively implemented Trump's policies, including banning transgender troops and diversity programs. On Wednesday, he revoked security protections for Mark Milley, the former top U.S. military official during Trump's first term, who has since become a prominent critic of the administration.
Republican lawmakers defended Trump's attempt to freeze federal aid, even though it would undermine Congress's control over the $6.75 trillion federal budget. House Republican Conference Chair Tom Emmer praised Trump for delivering on his promise to address fiscal issues. Meanwhile, medical payments disrupted by the freeze resumed on Wednesday, though housing authority payment systems remained nonfunctional, according to Democratic Senator Patty Murray.
High-ranking members of Congress from both parties overseeing federal budgets welcomed the administration's reversal. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, a Republican, called the original memo "overreaching" and said it caused unnecessary confusion. Murray criticized the administration for causing "real harm and chaos" over the past 48 hours through incompetence and disregard for the law.
Trump's plan to expand the Guantanamo Bay migrant detention facility has sparked outrage. The facility, separate from the high-security prison for foreign terrorism suspects, has been used intermittently for decades to detain migrants, including Haitians and Cubans. Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, stated the administration would expand the existing facility, which would be managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Human rights groups have long condemned Guantanamo for indefinite detention and harsh interrogation methods, which critics equate to torture. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel labeled Trump's plan "an act of brutality." Pro-refugee groups have called for the facility's closure and a congressional investigation into alleged abuses, citing unsanitary conditions and inadequate services for detainees.
The Trump administration has also deployed military resources to address immigration issues. Following Trump's emergency declaration last week, the U.S. military has conducted deportation flights and stationed over 1,600 active-duty troops at the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, the military announced it would allow ICE to detain migrants at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado.
As Trump continues to push his agenda, his administration faces ongoing legal and political challenges, with Democrats accusing him of overreach and Republicans largely standing by his policies. The debate over federal spending, immigration, and Guantanamo Bay remains central to the administration's contentious legacy.