Story on Military.com | By Patricia Kime
Published January 29, 2025 at 11:40am ET

The Department of Veterans Affairs moved with breakneck speed Tuesday to review its programs that oversee grants, loans and financial assistance to outside organizations, declaring that 44 programs targeted by a federal funding freeze would continue.

The VA said its listed programs had received the OK to continue following a White House Office of Management and Budget directive late Monday that ordered a pause on thousands of federal aid programs while they underwent review to ensure they complied with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.

"[The freeze] will have no impact on VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries," Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter said in a news release Tuesday night.

The surprise White House announcement drew outcries from aid recipients Tuesday and prompted a lawsuit by representatives for nonprofits and other organizations. It also sparked confusion across federal agencies and groups that provide services and programs for Americans, including military personnel, families and veterans.

The VA's announcement late Tuesday followed a federal judge's order temporarily blocking the freeze. U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan suspended the effort minutes before it was set to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday in response to the lawsuit.