President Donald Trump has ordered a freeze on all federal assistance loans and grants, and there has been considerable confusion over what exactly is being targeted by the wide-ranging move. A memorandum issued by the Office of Management and Budget ordered federal agencies "to identify and review all federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President's policies and requirements.

While the administration insists the funding freeze does not apply to direct payments like Social Security and Medicaid, SNAP benefits are in a gray area. Experts interpret the ambiguous language in the memo as potentially impacting programs administered through state and local governments.