Update: OMB Memorandum M-25-13 Rescinded

On January 29, Dominique Blom, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing, shared the following statement:

This afternoon, the US Office of Management and Budget, on behalf of President Trump, rescinded the memo that instructed all federal departments to temporarily pause all activities related to the obligation and disbursement of federal financial assistance. The pause has ended and access to LOCCS is restored.

Housing Catalyst is monitoring the potential impacts of new Executive Orders and directives on approved federal funding. A memo sent by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 27 directs all federal agencies to temporarily pause the disbursement and obligation of federal financial assistance effective January 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. Read the full memorandum M-25-13.

The most recent guidance suggests the pause will not apply to any programs that provide direct benefits to Americans, including rental assistance. However, the full extent of the impacts of this directive are still unclear. Housing Catalyst is working closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, our peer agencies, and our national networks to clarify these directives and determine next steps.

We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

If you have thoughts you would like to share regarding these White House directives, we encourage you to reach out to your representatives. You can find your representatives’ contact information here: usa.gov/elected-officials