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Welcome to The Logoff. At this time’s version is about Donald Trump’s try and freeze an enormous portion of federal spending, a transfer that has implications for tens of millions of Individuals who rely on authorities applications and for the long-term stability of energy.
What funds is Trump making an attempt to freeze? Up to now, there’s mass confusion. The order seems, broadly, to freeze grant funding that goes out to organizations, however not funds to people. Medicare and Social Safety aren’t affected, however no person appears clear on what’s taking place to Medicaid (although the newest pondering is that it’s secure), and interpretations battle on different applications, like meals stamps.
When does this go into impact? It was set to enter impact at 5 pm right now, however a federal decide simply issued a short lived halt on the spending freeze whereas judges evaluation it. So for now, we’re in limbo.
How lengthy is the pause supposed to final? Businesses have till February 10 to evaluation the spending to see if it aligns with Trump’s priorities. What occurs after that’s unclear.
Is that this an enormous deal? Extraordinarily. We’re speaking about billions of {dollars} and applications that present day-to-day support for individuals in want.
Is that this regular? By no means. Presidents often pause sure grant funding for evaluation, however two issues make this distinctive: the scope of the freeze, which matches means, means past what Trump’s predecessors have completed, and the truth that Trump has threatened to cancel some spending solely.
Is that this authorized? Buckle up. There’s disagreement over whether or not even pausing this spending is authorized, and that’s already being challenged in court docket. However the huge query is what occurs if Trump follows via on his promise to totally cancel some spending that Congress has licensed. That transfer — often called “impoundment” — is prohibited underneath US regulation. However Trump’s workforce says that regulation is unconstitutional, and the combat appears more likely to go all the way in which to the Supreme Court docket.
And if the Supreme Court docket had been to facet with Trump, it might hand a lot of Congress’s management of spending over to the president — a large rebalancing of energy inside the federal authorities.
And with that, it’s time to sign off …
I used to be intrigued by this story about what seems to be a piece of the moon that broke off eons in the past and is now by itself orbital journey. It’s a pleasant reminder that the universe is filled with mysteries. I’ll see you again right here tomorrow.
