On January 29, 2025, the Trump administration rescinded a federal order that had temporarily frozen all federal grants and aid, a move that had been blocked by a federal judge. The funding freeze, which was initiated on January 28, was expected to disrupt tens of billions of dollars in spending across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and disaster relief.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had been rescinded, stating, 'This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo.'
In a separate development on the same day, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the revocation of a decision that had provided deportation protections to approximately 600,000 Venezuelans. This decision reverses an extension ordered by former President Joe Biden, which had been set to last until October 2026.
Noem indicated that the administration is exploring options to deport Venezuelans and other migrants from countries that limit the number of deportees they accept. Discussions are reportedly underway regarding the potential use of the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a facility for housing deportees.
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which was expanded during Biden's administration, provides relief to individuals from countries facing extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters and armed conflicts. The Biden administration had cited the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela as a reason for the extension of TPS for Venezuelans.
On the campaign trail for the 2024 presidential election, Trump pledged to tighten immigration controls and strengthen border security. Following his inauguration, he ordered a review of TPS designations through an executive order titled 'Protecting American People Against Invasion.'
Additionally, Brazil expressed condemnation of the US government after reports emerged of deportees arriving on a plane in handcuffs.