ADDS MORE INFO
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed President Donald Trump on Tuesday for pausing grants, loans and other federal assistance.
"Last night, President Trump plunged the country into chaos. Without a shred of warning, the Trump administration announced a halt to virtually all federal funds across the country," Schumer told reporters.
His remarks came a day after a memo from the White House budget office called for a spending freeze on federal assistance by 5 p.m. (2200GMT) Tuesday, which could affect everything from aid to nonprofits and universities to small business loans and state and local government grants.
"This decision is lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel. It's illegal. It's unconstitutional," said Schumer.
Separately, addressing the Senate floor, he said Trump must rescind the order at once and Congress must act if he refuses.
"Make no mistake, this is Project 2025," he said, adding the Senate Budget Committee should "slow down" its consideration of Russell Vought for White House budget director.
"The danger of having someone like Russell Vought, the chief cook and bottle washer of Project 2025, in charge of OMB (Office of Management and Budget) is frightening to just about every American family in terms of what it could do to them," Schumer said.
He added that Trump does not have the authority to ignore the law and ignore Congress.
- 'He is not a king'
Senator Bernie Sanders also blasted Trump's decision, which will have a "devastating impact" on the health and well-being of millions of children, seniors on fixed incomes and the "most vulnerable" people in the country.
"Bottom line: This unconstitutional memo must be rescinded. The American people — Democrats, Republicans and Independents — must come together to defeat this move towards authoritarianism.
"If President Trump wants to change our nation’s laws, he has the right to ask Congress to change them. He does not have the right to violate the United States Constitution. He is not a king," Sanders said in a statement.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the House Democratic Caucus will hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss a comprehensive three-pronged counteroffensive anchored in an appropriations strategy, a litigation strategy, and a communications strategy.