LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – An executive order by President Donald Trump is on hold Tuesday night. It would have put a freeze on funding for federal grants and loans.

A federal judge stepped in and temporarily blocked the president’s order, but that didn’t stop the chaos and confusion that followed across the country and right here in southern Nevada.

While most agencies are not commenting on the potential impact of a federal pause in funding, some did.

Several agencies depend on this federal funding, and so do thousands of Nevadans who benefit from their programs including children and seniors.

Assemblymember, Steve Yeager didn’t hold back on what he thinks the consequences could be. “We’ve got to get a handle on this. It could just be a real disaster,” Yeager said. “It’s a huge concern, not just in Nevada but to every state in the country when we talk about potential cutting off of funds.”

This all comes as several agencies were in front of the Legislative Commission’s Budget Subcommittee asking for more money.

Senator Nicole Cannizzaro explains how these agencies might have to make some edits.

“When we’re looking at trying to put together a state budget that is highly reliant on federal funding, the idea that some of that may not may no longer be available will affect a lot of these conversations,” Cannizzaro said.

The fight for funds could have a chilling effect on the Judicial Branch, according to Katherine Stocks.

“Since we are a decentralized judiciary, we have the federal grants that are within the AOC and the Supreme Court’s direct control,” Stocks said.

The Director and State Court Administrator adds many of the specialty courts are federally funded. That’s worrisome to Stocks since a specific program focuses on a vulnerable group.

“Biggest piece is our C.I.P. our Child Improvement Program or court improvement program that focuses on child welfare,” Stocks said.

The Division of Food and Nutrition gets 89% of its money through federal funding to support programs like school breakfast, and the child and adult food program.

The news has the Department of Agriculture playing catch up. Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, J.J. Goicoechea says his team has been up all night thinking about next steps.

“We have spent, I would say extensive amount of time the last 20 hours looking at what this will do to us,” Goicoechea said. “We will continue to operate under the assumption we will have the money we have now and we will stick to our very strict budget.”

DMV reps said they were unaware at the moment of any impacts the freeze could have at this time. Assemblyman Steve Yeager worries with all the federal funding that flows into the DMV, there could be bumps in the road.

“Obviously that would blow a gigantic hole in our state budget not just for DMV, but for every other agency,” Yeager said.

The order was blocked by a U.S. District Judge minutes before it was set to go into effect Tuesday afternoon.

An administrative stay pauses that freeze until Monday, February 3rd, 2025.

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