'There’s no clarity': Reporter confronts Trump’s press secretary over federal funding freeze

28 January

President Donald Trump's new freeze on federal funding has created vast uncertainty for Americans who depend on federally funded programs, ranging from food stamps to school lunches and even Medicaid. Now, his chief spokesperson is sparring with journalists asking about the finer details of the funding freeze.

During her first daily White House briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fielded questions from assembled reporters, many of whom peppered her with questions about the funding freeze. In one tense exchange with NBC News Peter Alexander, Leavitt fired back when Alexander asked her about whether Americans who depend on certain programs can rely on them in the future.

"President Trump, of course, ran, one of the key policy items was that he was going to lower prices, lower the cost of everything from groceries, as he often said," Alexander said. "But in many of the cases, it would seem that some of these moves could raise prices for real Americans on everything from low-income heating, that program, child care programs. Will nothing that the president is doing here... raise prices on ordinary Americans?"

"What particular actions are you referring to?" Leavitt responded.

"I'm referring to [low-income heating assistance] right now," Alexander said. "There's no clarity. So I could refer to a lot of them. We don't know what they are specifically."

"So you're asking a hypothetical based on programs that you can't even identify?" Leavitt shot back.

"Well, just just to be clear, since you guys haven't identified [them], let's do it together just for Americans at home," Alexander said. "Medicaid, is that affected?"

"I gave you a list of examples. Social Security, Medicare, welfare benefits, food stamps, that will not be impacted by this federal pause," she said. "I can get you the full list after this briefing from the Office of Management and Budget."

The Trump administration has stated that anyone receiving "direct assistance" from the federal government would not be impacted by the funding freeze. However, CBS News reported that the Medicaid Payment Management System that states use to access federal funds is down. Leavitt tweeted that the White House is "aware" that the portal is down, but said no payments have been affected and that the portal should be restored soon.

Watch the exchange below, or by clicking this link.

From Your Site Articles