The White House has begun offering buyouts to federal workers as part of President Trump's larger plan to overhaul the U.S. government.

The White House budget office has ordered a pause in grants, loans and other federal financial assistance, according to a memo sent to government agencies on Monday, potentially paralyzing a vast swath of programs and sowing confusion and alarm among the array of groups that depend on them.

The unexpected memo left agencies scrambling to understand which programs were affected and how they should respond.

The Trump administration has temporarily paused grant, loan and other financial assistance programs, according to a memo.