ARLINGTON, Va., January 28, 2025 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander today issued this statement regarding recent pause of all federal grants and loans:
On Monday, January 27, 2025, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued an internal memorandum ordering a temporary pause on all federal grants and loans. Matthew Vaeth, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), stated that federal agencies “must temporarily halt all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of Federal financial assistance.”
The memo notes exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, allowing federal agencies to issue new awards or take other actions as needed. At this time, Meals on Wheels America is trying to determine how the directives of this memo may impact millions of our nation’s most vulnerable seniors and the local Meals on Wheels providers who serve them. The memo and further correspondence from OMB have created uncertainty and fear in our providers across the county.
If Older Americans Act Nutrition Program funding is paused, which constitutes the primary source of federal funding for senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels, it could put millions of vulnerable seniors who have no other means of purchasing or preparing meals at risk. Our funding flows from the Agency on Aging within the Administration for Community Living to State Units on Aging and through Area Agencies on Aging to roughly 5,000 community-based senior nutrition providers. So, while the memo states the funding pause excludes assistance “provided directly to individuals,” Meals on Wheels funding does not go directly to the individual recipient. That's where the confusion lies.
The current lack of clarity and uncertainty is creating chaos for local Meals on Wheels providers. Despite not knowing how this pause will impact their future funding, they continue to deliver meals and moments of connection to seniors in their communities. The possibility of a service interruption unfortunately means seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from.
This adds insult to injury as these programs are already underfunded to begin with. Freezing funding provided through the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program is unfathomable at a time when we should be addressing the gap between those Meals on Wheels can serve and those desperately in need – not halting an essential lifeline for millions of our nation’s most vulnerable. Largely speaking, local providers don't have the ability to absorb a blow like this if it persists for any extended period. And vulnerable seniors can’t wait for the nutrition assistance and social connections they desperately need.
We stand with local Meals on Wheels providers across the nation and are alarmed at the potentially devastating consequence for seniors. While we continue to closely monitor the situation, we remain committed to empowering local programs to serve America's seniors with nutritious meals and essential social connections to the best of their ability.
ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. Through funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.