Trump has suddenly severed federal funding, which is an overreach of powers, the governor and attorney general say

In a Tuesday press briefing with the governor, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Democratic-led states will file a lawsuit by end of day.

A directive to freeze federal aid was widely decried by Democrats, but there was little clarity on what it will actually do.

The pause is the latest example of how Trump is harnessing his power over the federal system to advance his conservative goals. Unlike during his first term, when Trump and many members of his inner circle were unfamiliar with Washington, this time he’s reaching deep into the bureaucracy.

Oregon officials are speaking Tuesday afternoon ahead of a federal funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration and how it could impact the state. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield are expected to speak at 12:45 p.

Gov. Tina Kotek urged Oregonians to keep using services such as Medicaid and Head Start as usual, and not delay care.

Oregon leaders were scrambling Tuesday morning after an announcement from the Trump administration that it was at least temporarily freezing many federal funds. State budgets rely heavily on federal funding: In Oregon,

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said he was "deeply concerned" by the pause and "will explore any and all legal actions to challenge this harmful order from President Trump." Rayfield said he and the Department of Justice were working with attorney generals from other states.