White House order to freeze federal grants reflects President Donald Trump’s theory of presidential power that he endorsed during his 2024 campaign. The memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget aims to align federal spending with Trump’s executive actions on various issues. The memo invoked ideological terms and was temporarily halted by a federal judge. It could be a preview of how Trump plans to wield executive power throughout his presidency.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is seen as a critical power center by Trump and his allies. The OMB staff prepares the president’s budget recommendations and oversees the implementation of his priorities across government agencies. Project 2025 authors call for more direct power for the OMB, emphasizing its role in overriding implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.
Trump has declared himself the final arbiter of government spending, endorsing the theory of “impoundment.” This theory allows the president to decide not to spend money on certain programs deemed unnecessary. Trump’s circle wants to challenge this theory, potentially setting up a constitutional fight that could involve the Supreme Court.
The president’s preferred path to impose spending cuts quickly has become clearer through the OMB memo and his efforts to strip away civil service protections from federal employees. This concentration of power in the White House could define his second administration. Trump could use OMB to effectively cut off funding for programs and services without needing to repeal legislation, creating a significant impact on government operations.
Source
Photo credit denvergazette.com
