Overview

• White House adviser Alina Habba stated that the authority to interpret the law lies with the White House counsel and the U.S. attorney general, dismissing other legal opinions.
• Habba's comments came during a Fox News interview, where she defended President Trump's freeze on federal grant programs, a move widely criticized as unconstitutional.
• Critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, argue that the freeze violates the Constitution's separation of powers and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
• Legal experts and commentators have pointed out that the Supreme Court, not the White House, serves as the final arbiter of U.S. law.
• The freeze on federal funds has sparked lawsuits and concerns about its impact on programs like Medicaid, school lunches, and international aid.