President Donald Trump issued a memo ordering a freezing of federal funds. After lawsuits and a federal judge issuing an injunction, the memo was rescinded.

After major backlash, Trump’s radical plan to freeze government spending is on hold. Now, it’s all very confusing and somewhat opaque — which, under Trump, is by design — but here’s what appears to have happened: We often forget that Trump has frequently been cowed by public opinion when it turns against him.

The order that froze trillions of dollars of federal grants and loans was published without vetting by key officials in the White House.