The Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Minot was contemplating adjustments to its spending in coming weeks before a federal judge blocked a presidential order to freeze federal grant and loan distributions Tuesday.

“A little over 50 percent of our grants are federal awards. Some come through the state and some are direct. That would be a pretty significant impact,” said Jill McDonald, DVCC executive director. “It’s my understanding it’s a temporary freeze until February 10. Then department heads are to come up with some recommendations. For DVCC, it definitely has us concerned for what that impact would be for our services moving forward.”

The concern is the potential for future recommendations to permanently cancel funding that has been awarded but not yet allocated. DVCC was looking at postponing some spending and ensuring it has rainy day savings in light of the presidential order, McDonald said.

The reprieve by the federal judge came as many groups that receive federal assistance were still analyzing the fallout.

Holly Brekhus, executive director at First District Health Unit, said Tuesday afternoon that program managers at the state level had been unsure of the impacts that early on.

Ward County Auditor Marisa Haman said there was conversation about the freeze within the county, but the impacts weren’t fully known Tuesday. She said a freeze could affect funding coming to the Sheriff’s Office, such as for bullet proof vests for which the county received a grant. The county also was hoping to finalize a grant through the Department of Energy to make heating system efficiencies but received notice that grants are on hold, she said.