As Richmond-area governments were still reviewing the potential impacts of a Trump administration pause on federal grants and loans, the administration on Wednesday rescinded the order.
Late Monday night the White House had ordered a temporary pause on all federal grants and loans that would begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday. A memo from the Executive Branch’s Office of Management and Budget said the government spent more than $3 trillion on federal assistance in fiscal year 2024. The memo also said the order would not affect assistance sent directly to individuals like Social Security or Medicare.
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The OMB memo went on to say that the pause will give the administration time “to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities.”
Avula: ‘I have grave concerns’
During a Wednesday afternoon news conference at City Hall, Mayor Danny Avula expressed some relief about the retraction of the order, but said he “does not think ... this is the end of it.”
“I have grave concerns,” Avula said. “I think some version of this will likely come back, and so we’ve got to be prepared for that.”
The mayor said the past 36 hours had been chaotic and filled with uncertainty as residents asked questions and his staff worked to determine the impact for Richmond’s city government and residents.
Concerned stakeholders have included hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and homeless services providers, Avula said, the latter of which receive $9 million in federal funding annually.
“We are significantly dependent of federal funding for a lot of different things,” Avula said. “What came out from the federal government has really thrown a lot of local communities into disarray.”
While federal officials have said the move was not meant to impact individuals who receive federal benefits, Avula pointed out that many of those individuals receive their benefits through state and local programs.
“We still don’t have much clarity on what that means,” he said.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Miami to Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Monday as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt listens.
Kamras: No impact to current funding
Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said, that as the school division interprets the order, the grant freeze would likely not impact current federal funding streams.
Roughly 10% of the division’s yearly budget comes from federal funding. These funds primarily go toward special education, English-learning language services, school food programs as well as facility upgrades.
If the division were to lose federal funding in its entirety, however, Kamras said it would have lasting impacts on the division’s students and families. The division is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
“Federal aid is a small but vital portion of our overall funding,” Kamras said. “It helps us level the playing field for students furthest from opportunity.”
Henrico, Hanover awaiting guidance
Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas said on Tuesday the county was assessing every area where it receives federal funding.
An example of a department receiving federal funds is Social Services, which administers benefits for people with mental health issues. It also runs the county’s nutritional aid programs for low-income people and families, among other functions.
Vithoulkas said that he is eyeing the situation with caution, but that he is also calm, having seen uncertainty around funding in the past.
“The team here on the administrative side has been through a number of economic cycles — ups and downs,” Vithoulkas said. “I can tell you that over the years, many times the initial information is just not what the final product ends up being.”
“The history of the county has been that we always find a way to say ‘yes’,” he said.
Hanover spokesperson Kristin Smith Dunlop, like Henrico, said on Tuesday it was too early to understand all of the implications from the Trump memo, and that the county is awaiting guidance.
The majority of federal money in the general fund goes to departments such as Social Services, the Community Services Board and Hanover Dash, a specialized transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities.
Most of the county’s federal appropriations to the general fund total about $6.8 million.
“Federal funding also plays a critical role in most of our road and airport projects,” Dunlop said.
Judge pauses funding freeze
Late on Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration order minutes before it was supposed to go into effect. The judge’s stay froze the order until Monday.
Just minutes after the judge’s action, Democratic state attorneys generals for 22 states and the District of Columbia brought their own lawsuit against the Trump administration for the federal funding freeze.
On Wednesday afternoon, the White House confirmed that OMB rescinded the memo Wednesday in a two sentence notice sent to agencies and departments, but said that Trump’s underlying executive orders targeting federal spending in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change, remained in place.
Shocked by the price of eggs? Here are 11 inflation-proof groceries for healthy eating in 2025
Shocked by the price of eggs? Here are 11 inflation-proof groceries for healthy eating in 2025
In recent years, more and more Americans are noting groceries as a source of financial stress. According to one report, 70% of shoppers say they struggle to pay for their groceries and 62% say they avoid buying snacks in order to save money.
Americans took those concerns to the ballot box in November 2024, with 96% of voters reporting high grocery and gas prices as a factor in their decision for the presidential election.
Hers set out to find how much the prices of healthy groceries have gone up in the U.S.—how much did the cost of eggs really increase in the past year?—and which items have been the most resistant to inflation to help support your healthy eating goals and your budget in 2025.
A balanced diet that includes whole, unprocessed foods is a cornerstone of maintaining a healthy weight and overall health and well-being. In fact, research shows that 80% of chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, may be prevented with lifestyle changes like better diet and moderate exercise. But eating whole foods can feel more expensive than processed options in the grocery store, especially with so much price volatility in recent years. In 2022, for instance, overall food prices jumped by nearly 10%.
It's possible to add healthier options to your shopping list and still stick to your budget. Hers looked at 23 grocery items, including unprocessed meats, eggs, beans, fruits, and vegetables to uncover the most affordable items to incorporate into your meal planning, flagging the items that have seen dramatic increases—and even a few that have had a decrease in price.
Here's how inflation has impacted healthy food prices so you can shop the grocery store without breaking the bank.
Key Findings
- Potatoes, fish and seafood, and canned/frozen vegetables saw the biggest price drops over the last year.
- Eggs had the most expensive price increase at 37.5%.
- Most meat and fresh vegetables became more expensive, with annual increases ranging from 0.7% to up to 5.1%.
11 Groceries With the Least Impact from Inflation
Now here's the full list of healthy foods and how they've fared against inflation.
Healthy Groceries, Ranked from Lowest to Highest Inflation Rates
1. Potatoes (-2%)
2. Shelf stable fish and seafood (-1.9%)
3. Frozen fish and seafood (-1.7%)
4. Canned vegetables (tied) (-1.4%)
4. Frozen vegetables (tied) (-1.4%)
6. Fresh apples (-0.9%)
7. Fresh fish and seafood (-0.8%)
8. Bacon and breakfast sausage (-0.4%)
9. Bananas (-0.2%)
10. Cheese (tied) (+0.2%)
10. Citrus fruits (tied) (+0.2%)
12. Fresh whole chicken (+0.7%)
13. Fresh and frozen chicken parts (+1%)
14. Lettuce (+1.1%)
15. Tomatoes (+1.3%)
16. Ham (+2.3%)
17. Other fresh vegetables (+2.9%)
18. Uncooked beef roasts (+4.2%)
19. Uncooked ground beef (+4.8%)
20. Uncooked beef steaks (+5.0%)
21. Pork chops (+5.1%)
22. Dried beans, peas, and lentils (+7.4%)
23. Eggs (+37.5%)
Methodology: How Hers Ranked Grocery Inflation
To identify how grocery prices have changed in the last year, Hers pulled 12-month price data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The list focuses on whole foods, including unprocessed meats and other proteins (like eggs and dried beans), vegetables, and fruit. Canned fruit was excluded because of the potential for added sugar and each item was ranked based on the change in price over a one-year period, with the lowest price increases ranking best on the list of inflation-proof healthy groceries.
3 Tips For Eating Healthy on a Budget
Incorporating unprocessed, whole foods is an important part of any health journey, whether you're trying to lose weight, manage or prevent a medical condition, or simply want to feel more energized. Follow these three tips to eat healthy without blowing your food budget.
- Focus on a balanced diet: One of the best healthy habits you can build is to eat nutritious foods. Be purposeful in your grocery choices to include more vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Focusing on specific unprocessed foods for meals and healthy snacks simplifies your shopping list and helps you avoid food waste.
- Pay attention to serving sizes: Portion control is another important part of balancing nutrition and your grocery budget. Instead of eating less, fill your plate with more nutritious options, like more veggies. Understand your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and find out your recommended serving size for different food groups to fill your plate and feel satiated. You may find you have delicious leftovers that provide you with extra nutritious meals from the same shopping trip.
- Buy in bulk: Research shows that the lowest price points for healthy eating are found at bulk grocery stores. Compare prices at multiple grocery stores, including bulk stores, to find the best prices on your favorite ingredients. You can always freeze extra produce or meat to prevent it from going bad while still taking advantage of lower prices.
Even as grocery prices fluctuate month by month, stay motivated to eat healthy by incorporating more affordable ingredients into your meal plan.
This story was produced by Hers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Paul Whelan
Metro Editor
Sean Jones
Henrico and Hanover Counties Reporter
Em Holter
Schools Reporter
Samuel B. Parker
City of Richmond Reporter
