Trump White House Defends Funding Freeze: Biden Administration Spent Money 'Like Drunken Sailors'

The Trump administration on Tuesday defended the freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans as part of a sweeping effort to tighten oversight of government spending.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that the pause would allow the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reassess current allocations and align them with President Donald Trump's priorities. The freeze does not affect individual assistance programs but instead targets a variety of other federal expenditures, according to Leavitt.

"It is a temporary pause," Leavitt said during a briefing, "and the Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the federal funding that has been going out the door, again, not for individual assistance, but for all of these other programs that I mentioned."

"I also spoke with the incoming Director of OMB this morning," she added, "and he told me to tell all of you that the line to his office is open for other federal government agencies across the board, and if they feel that programs are necessary and in line with the President's agenda, then the Office of Management and Budget will review those policies."

The decision comes amid criticisms of the Biden administration's spending habits.

"Think this is a very responsible measure. Again, the past four years, we've seen the Biden administration spend money like drunken sailors. It's a big reason we've had an inflation crisis in this country, and it's incumbent upon this administration to make sure again that every penny is being accounted for, honestly," Leavitt said.

Officials previously justified the decision as essential for aligning funding with Trump-era executive orders to reverse progressive policies on transgender rights, environmental justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. They reassured that direct federal assistance programs like Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, and student loans would remain unaffected, as reported by PBS News.

However, the freeze could create widespread disruptions across healthcare research, education programs, and other areas. Even previously awarded but unspent grants are subject to suspension.