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

The federal government fell into chaos Tuesday as officials braced for potential interruptions to programs that range from protecting food safety to responding to natural disasters.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Social Security, Medicare and food stamps would not be affected by the decision to freeze federal aid. NBC News’ Sahil Kapur reports on the Trump administration’s first White House press briefing and whether Medicaid could be among the programs affected.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (January 28) said that food stamps and welfare benefits will not be affected by President Donald Trump's pause on grant, loan and other financial assistance programs.

Karoline Leavitt, President Trump’s White House Press Secretary, hosted the first press briefing of Trump’s second term. Reporters asked Leavitt about Trump’s decision to freeze federal aid and grants.

President Donald Trump’s administration rushed to clarify a memo pausing federal grants, loans, and financial assistance, saying that the instructions from the White House budget office were not intended as an “across-the-board” freeze.