Editor’s note: This is an update to a developing story. For more about the original memo, click here to view our story from Tuesday.
President Donald Trump’s budget office rescinded a memo Wednesday that would have frozen spending on federal grants after sparking confusion and legal challenges across the country.
As of our deadline Tuesday night, grant funding for university research projects was up in the air. The rescinding of this memo erases fears that money will be gone for the foreseeable future.
The memo, which came Monday evening from the White House Office of Management and Budget, sparked chaos among officials and universities over crucial financial assistance.
According to a report from The Associated Press, the White House confirmed that the OMB reversed the memo Wednesday, sending out a two-sentence notice to agencies and departments. The White House has made clear the underlying executive orders targeting federal spending in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change remained.
“The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The vaguely worded memo caused widespread confusion and chaos among lawmakers, public officials and university officials, including at South Dakota State University.
In a story published Tuesday night, SDSU Students’ Association Vice President Hayden Bentz communicated this confusion.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of questions that students will have,” Bentz said. “I have a lot of questions myself.”
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis Hedge echoed those sentiments at a regularly schedule Faculty Senate meeting.

“I’m going to mention it, but there’s really not a whole lot of additional information I have for you other than there will be more communication coming out,” Hedge said of the temporary pause.
The rescinded order now erases the uncertainty.
The freeze was scheduled to go into effect at 4 p.m. Central time but was blocked by a federal judge after an emergency hearing requested by nonprofit groups that receive federal grants. This block would have held the freeze off until at least Monday.
Shortly after 5 p.m. Central time, University Marketing and Communication sent out an email, following a short statement sent out earlier in the day, confirming that the U.S. Department of education said that Title IV federal funding, which includes federal student loans and grants, would not be impacted by the action of the president’s administration.
The Collegian’s Emily DeCock and Danielle Nowell contributed to this report.