The directive from the Office of Management and Budget that froze most federal funds on Monday had not gone through the usual approval process.

The OMB memo had directed federal agencies to pause grants and loans pending a review of compliance withe the agenda of President Donald Trump.

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.