A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore frozen funding that had been halted following a directive from the Office of Management and Budget. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell issued the order in response to a coalition of 22 states who claimed that the government had failed to comply with his previous ruling halting the funding freeze. McConnell accused the administration of defying his court order, which led to chaos and confusion across the country.
The ruling marks the first time since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration that a federal judge has accused his administration of defying a court order. McConnell criticized the government’s decision to freeze funds, stating that it was likely unconstitutional and causing irreparable harm. The ruling requires the restoration of funding for the duration of the temporary restraining order, which will remain in place until a preliminary injunction hearing later in the month.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to the ruling, but did file an appeal late Monday. In a separate case, unions suing the administration over the placement of U.S. Agency for International Development employees on administrative leave alleged that the agency was not complying with a judge’s order to reinstate those employees. The OMB memo that directed federal agencies to pause financial assistance was later rescinded, with McConnell arguing that the directives fell outside of the president’s authority. He emphasized that the president must ask Congress, rather than act unilaterally, if appropriations are inconsistent with his priorities.
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