Today, many questions are still in play about how the Trump administration’s efforts toward a federal funding freeze have or could affect everyone, including landscape architects in public and private practice.

ASLA has been following the situation closely and gathering feedback from effected members. In response, ASLA has engaged with legal experts to create guidance on how landscape architects may proceed.

ASLA members can access this guidance below to learn more.

Executive Actions to Date

Since taking office on January 20, the Trump administration has released several executive orders impacting federal funding. In particular, the administration on January 20 released the executive order titled, Unleashing American Energy, which states, “all agencies shall immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 (Public Law 117-169) or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Public Law 117-58).” Then, on January 27, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum instructing agencies to impose a “temporary pause” on many federal loans and grants, including those administered under IIJA and IRA programs.

ASLA and its advocates worked tirelessly to pass key provisions in both the IIJA and IRA that addressed planning and resilient design, active transportation, water and stormwater management, parks and outdoor recreation, and more. These provisions have benefited landscape architects and the communities they serve.

After legal challenges, OMB rescinded its funding memorandum and federal courts have enjoined the government’s “pause” in payments to contractors and grant recipients. However, it appears that agencies are nonetheless stopping disbursements under many federal programs and directing some contractors and grant recipients to stop work. Many agencies have taken immediate action to enforce new executive orders by issuing stop-work orders to federal contractors under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Grant recipients are also facing suspension orders pursuant to the grant regulations.

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