While the administration insists the funding freeze does not apply to direct payments like Social Security and Medicaid, SNAP benefits are in a gray area. Experts interpret the ambiguous language in the memo as potentially impacting programs administered through state and local governments.

Many are unclear on how sweeping the federal funding freeze is intended to be. Here are programs it could affect.

Trump's funding freeze has raised concerns over Medicare, SNAP, and student loans. Learn which programs are impacted and how it may affect you.

Commonly referred to as "food stamps," SNAP benefits are administered nationwide to low- and no-income households that would otherwise struggle to purchase groceries. In 2023, the program served an average of 42.1 million people per month, or 12.6 percent of U.S. residents.

The spending freeze on federal assistance could affect everything from aid to nonprofits, universities, small business loans and state and local government grants.