A federal judge in the District of Columbia has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze up to $3 trillion in federal grants and loans. The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward, arguing that the order violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge issued an “administrative stay” to pause the freeze and scheduled a hearing for a more permanent decision on February 3.
Attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia also filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the freeze pending a review of spending priorities by the Trump administration. The legal wrangling caused confusion nationwide after a memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget called for a pause in federal financial assistance due to concerns about “D.E.I., woke gender ideology, and the Green New Deal.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the order as reckless and dangerous, with ambiguous wording meant to provoke uncertainty. This ruling marks the second time a federal judge has intervened to halt the Trump administration’s actions. The first was when a judge in Washington issued a temporary restraining order against ending automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S.
These legal challenges highlight ongoing tensions between the administration and various states and organizations. The judge’s decision provides temporary relief from the freeze, but uncertainty remains until a more permanent ruling is made in February.
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