(The Center Square) – With thousands of migrants having been deported and a freeze on federal grant funding recently announced, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fielded dozens of questions from the media during the first formal press briefing of the second Trump administration.

Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in history, began by highlighting the president’s more than 300 executive orders, including reinstating his Remain in Mexico policy, terminating federal DEI programs, and declaring a national energy emergency.

She also clarified that the sudden pause on federal aid and grants announced Monday night will not impact federal assistance programs that directly serve individuals, including Social Security, Medicare and welfare benefits, and food stamps.

“So, what does this pause mean? It means no more funding for illegal DEI programs. It means no more funding for the green new scam that has cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. It means no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy,” Leavitt said.

“Again, people who are receiving individual assistance, you will continue to receive that, and President Trump is looking out for you by issuing this pause, because he is being a good steward of your taxpayer dollars,” she added.

The pause will last for as long as the Office of Management and Budget takes to review programs and policies spending taxpayer money. Agencies and organizations have until Feb. 10 to submit information on any programs subject to the suspension.

OMB has already halted and identified unnecessary spending initiatives, she said, such as $50 million of taxpayer funds that would have provided condoms to Gaza residents.

Charities and NGOs that provide services for illegal migrants and refugees will also be denied funding as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal border crossings.

And migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally, including those who have not committed any other crimes, are all subject to deportation.

“If you are a foreign national who illegally enters the United States of America, you are, by definition, a criminal," Leavitt said. "And so therefore, you are subject to deportation."

But, she added, “the individuals who have committed heinous acts in the interior of our country and who have terrorized law-abiding American citizens, absolutely those should be the priority of ICE. But that doesn’t mean the other illegal criminals who entered our nation's borders are off the table.”

The press secretary also defended Trump’s executive order to end universal birthright citizenship, saying the administration believes it is “unconstitutional” for the children of migrants who entered the U.S. illegally to be granted citizenship.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have already arrested thousands of migrants nationwide for deportation, The Center Square reported.

The American people can continue to expect Trump to work at “breakneck speed” to accomplish his campaign promises, Leavitt said. “The golden age of America has most definitely begun.”