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ALERT – OMB Memorandum M-25-13 (“Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs”)

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On January 27, 2025, the White House Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) released a memorandum regarding “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs” (OMB Memorandum M-25-13; hereinafter the “OMB Memo”)). The OMB Memo directs Federal agencies, inter alia, to: (1) identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs consistent with President Trump’s recent policies … [Read more…]

Nonprofits, Public Health Leaders, Small Businesses File Suit to Block OMB Attempt to Halt Essential Services

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A coalition of organizations filed a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the White House Office of Management and Budget from pausing all agency grants and loans, as revealed in a memo issued January 27, 2025.  Plaintiffs, represented in the legal challenge by Democracy Forward, include … [Read more…]

USAID Letter – Notice on Implementation of Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid

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In accordance with the President’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid and additional direction provided by the Department of State, USAID is pausing all new obligations of funding, and sub-obligations of funding under Development Objective Agreements (DOAGs), pending a review of foreign assistance programs funded by USAID. For the purposes of … [Read more…]

US Aid Freeze: US Implementers Need to Regroup and Challenge the Stop Work Orders

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The funds were approved by Congress, and under the Impoundment Control Act, the president doesn’t have the authority to refuse their disbursement. There are ways to conduct audits without jeopardizing the many Americans involved in these projects. In the U.S. alone, a whole section of work, including those employed by USAID, represents a significant workforce. … [Read more…]

Trump threatens ‘disciplinary action’ for USAID staff ignoring foreign aid freeze

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Memo offers further guidance to ‘stop-work’ directive and how to achieve Trump’s America first policy (see below) ———————— Date/DTG:Jan 24, 2025 / 241600Z JAN 25From:SECSTATE WASHDC Action: ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE Immediate E.O: 13526 TAGS: PREL, AID, EAID Subject: Executive Order on Review of Foreign Assistance Programs 1. (U) Consistent with the President’s … [Read more…]

House Democrats urge Rubio to lift foreign assistance freeze

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House Democrats urged President Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lift the foreign assistance freeze mandated by an executive order from earlier this week, cutting off most U.S-funded foreign development projects around the world.  The Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), the ranking … [Read more…]

Can USG implementers push back against the looming stop work orders or terminations?

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The Trump administration is imposing a 90-day suspension on foreign aid projects, with a few exceptions for countries like Israel and Egypt. Many USG implementers have already started receiving stop work orders, and more could be facing termination notices if their projects don’t align with the administration’s agenda. It’s important to remember that these projects … [Read more…]

Trump Reinstates the Mexico Policy: The Longstanding Anti-Abortion Policy

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Trump on Friday signed an executive order reinstating the policy. The president on Friday issued an executive order revoking former President Joe Biden’s 2021 directive that had axed the decades-old policy. The policy forbids using taxpayer dollars to fund nongovernmental organizations that perform or promote coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. HERE IS THE FULL EXECUTIVE ORDER … [Read more…]

NOTE FROM USAID: Notice on Implementation of Executive Order: DEIA Activities Under Existing USAID Awards

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Notice on Implementation of Executive Order Dear USAID Contracting and Agreement Officers and Implementing Partners, USAID is taking prompt action to comply with the President’s Executive Order on Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, the rescission of Executive Order 14035 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce, and additional direction … [Read more…]