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

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

White House officials struggled to clarify the scope of sweeping action by President Donald Trump to freeze federal grant funding on Tuesday.

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.