This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
A sudden pause in federal assistance is sowing disarray and outrage across the country, throwing into doubt a wide range of programs that help protect Americans from disasters, provide access to clean drinking water and affordable energy and help protect ecosystems, among many other issues.
The order, which came in a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget on Monday, directed agencies across the government to suspend federal assistance that might not be aligned with the policies of President Donald Trump, “including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, [diversity,