US federal judge issues second block on Trump administration’s federal aid freeze News
The Trump White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
US federal judge issues second block on Trump administration’s federal aid freeze

A US federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked an attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to freeze federal aid funding, finding that the administration’s directive was likely unconstitutional. The decision came after a federal judge in Washington, DC, blocked the same order in a separate lawsuit earlier this week.

Judge John J. McConnell of the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island held that the Trump administration “shall not pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate … obligations to provide federal financial assistance to the States.” The judge added: “The Executive cites no legal authority allowing it to do so; indeed, no federal law would authorize the Executive’s unilateral action here.”

Judge McConnell ruled in favor of a coalition of 22 US states that challenged a directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The memo sought to halt federal aid and grant spending while officials reviewed programs for compliance with a string of executive orders from Trump. However, facing intense backlash from critics and even pushback from some of his allies, the OMB scrapped the directive just 48 hours after issuing it.

Friday’s ruling takes an even stronger stance than the previous court order, blocking the administration from executing any broad defunding efforts while states fight for long-term relief. Judge McConnell wrote: “The evidence in the record at this point shows that, despite the rescission of the OMB Directive, the Executive’s decision to pause appropriated federal funds ‘remains in full force and effect.” The judge cited a post from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X, where she downplayed the impact of OMB’s reversal.

On Tuesday, US District Judge Loren AliKhan granted an administrative stay in a case challenging the directive, which paused the freeze for a week. The judge is scheduled to hear full arguments on the case on February 3.

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