52-page memo<\/a>\u00a0from the White House budget office\u00a0ordering agencies to answer 14 questions by the end of next week for each program that \u201chas funding or activities planned through March 15.\u201d\u00a0 The document included a list of every federal initiative that was impacted by the funding pause, and the Universal Service Fund, including E-rate, and the FCC\u2019s Cybersecurity Pilot, were on the list (pages 49\/50).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater in the day, OMB released a memo with clarifying questions and answers that appeared to narrow the scope of its original memo. The Q and A stated that only certain funding is affected — programs, projects, and activities implicated by the President\u2019s earlier Executive Orders that repeal DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest. OMB stated: \u201cAny program not implicated by the President\u2019s Executive Orders is not subject to the pause.\u201d However, no action was taken to shorten the original 52-page list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, just before 5:00 p.m. today, a federal judge blocked the funding pause until Monday afternoon. The court will hear arguments on Monday to consider next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully, by Monday, we will know with more certainty which programs are actual targets of the proposed funding pause and what this will mean for the impacted programs over the next several weeks, should the court allow the pause to continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will keep you posted as we learn more. For now, it\u2019s business as usual. Continue with your FY 2025 procurements, Form 472 BEAR filings, and Form 471 submissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
— Julie<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
717-730-7133<\/p>\n\n