California will help lead a coalition of states in suing to block a White House budget office order halting "all federal financial assistance."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt vehemently defended the administration’s sweeping freeze on federal aid, arguing Tuesday in her first press briefing that it was critical to scrutinize the scope of the government’s spending.

The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.

Presidents from both parties, including Trump, have let the budget grow and grow. The White House is trying to make changes on its own.

The order is "a potential five-alarm fire" for organizations that serve communities, nonprofit group executive says.