Update as of Wednesday, January 29, 2025:
The directive to freeze federal funds was rescinded on January 29, 2025. While we can collectively breathe for a moment, we remain ready for what's next.
On Thursday, January 30 at 12pm ET/9am PT, FHO and Funders Together to End Homelessness will convene a rapid response call to provide space for funders and members to connect, share how your foundation is responding, and strategize around how to support grantee partners now and as we continue to navigate federal actions that impact housing justice efforts. Register here.
Statement from the Fund for Housing and Opportunity on the OMB directive to pause critical federal assistance program
January 28, 2025
Last night’s action by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to halt critical federal assistance programs threatens the stability, safety, and prosperity of families and communities across the nation. This directive pauses the obligation of new funds as well as the disbursement of funds that have already been awarded, impacting programs that keep roofs over families’ heads, put food on the table, ensure children have access to quality education, and much more. This sweeping directive goes beyond political posturing—it is a far-reaching, insidious attack on the supports millions rely on to make ends meet.
The OMB action is not just the work of one man but the culmination of powerful interests working together to dismantle programs that help us thrive while they protect established wealth and privilege. They want to distract and divide hard-working people across our country with divisive rhetoric while gutting the economic supports that everyday people rely on. This is not leadership—it’s a calculated attempt to concentrate power in the hands of the few at the expense of the many.
Families will lose their homes. Communities will be destabilized. These are not sacrifices we can or should accept.
Housing is a basic need and human right, and the Fund for Housing and Opportunity is committed to work alongside our partners and advocates to ensure all of us thrive—not just those with concentrated power and privilege.
Many organizations took swift action to challenge the OMB directive, and on Tuesday, January 28th, a federal judge issued a stay, blocking the OMB from moving forward till at least February 3rd. While this is a huge win for communities, the work far from over. The temporary stay "does not block the Trump administration from freezing funding to new programs, or require it to restart funding that has already ended."
Additional information on the directive and related resources can be found below:
Policy Tracker: Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits from the National Council of Nonprofits
Blog: Federal Funding Pause—What We Know and Questions We Have via CLA
In this document, the OMB answered some questions related to the directive