Second judge blocks Trump's federal aid funding freeze
A judge sided with a coalition of 22 states and temporarily blocked a federal aid funding freeze directed by the White House — the second such order this week.
A federal judge on Friday sided with a coalition of 22 states and temporarily blocked a federal aid funding freeze directed by the Trump administration — the second such order this week.
U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell, in Rhode Island, said in his ruling that the wide-ranging directive in the Office of Management and Budget memo that caused chaos and confusion this week in Washington and across the country appeared to violate the law.
"The Executive’s action unilaterally suspends the payment of federal funds to the States and others simply by choosing to do so," the judge wrote.
"The Executive cites no legal authority allowing it to do so; indeed, no federal law would authorize the Executive’s unilateral action here," McConnell added, granting the coalition's request for a temporary restraining order.
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