The withdrawal of the federal freeze was a stunning about-face for President Donald Trump’s White House, which has so far pushed the envelope to reshape the federal government in Trump’s mold, sowing chaos and confusion that comes with firing career civil servants, pausing foreign aid programs and offering federal workers a buyout.

The move comes after the order sparked widespread criticism and confusion. A federal district judge had temporarily paused the freeze.

The Trump administration reversed its policy to freeze grants and loans while officials evaluated whether spending met the president's priorities.