White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed for answers about Team Trump's idea for a spending freeze. It didn't go especially well.

The White House is claiming the Wednesday move by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescinding a controversial order that froze a wide swath of federal financial assistance is

The White House Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday rescinded a memo that froze federal grants and loans and created widespread confusion this week.

The directive from the Office of Management and Budget that froze most federal funds on Monday had not gone through the usual approval process.

The White House memo issued late Monday led to chaos and confusion as to what programs would be impacted by the freeze.

WASHINGTON— Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made her debut in the White House briefing room where she defended President Donald Trump's plans to slash federal spending and its mass deportation efforts.

The original decision caused chaos and confusion and led to panicked calls to governmental agencies and public officials, before a federal judge paused the order.

"This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo," Press Secretary Leavitt tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Officials said the decision to halt loans and grants was necessary to ensure spending complies with recent executive orders.

The Trump White House on Tuesday defended a widespread pause on federal grants and loans in the face of confusion among nonprofit groups and outrage from Democrats over the order. Press secretary

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, during her first press briefing, faced a barrage of questions on the administration's freeze on federal aid programs.