A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a temporary restraining order blocking a Trump administration initiative aimed at freezing funding for federal grants and various programs. The ruling by U.S. Judge Loren AliKhan came in response to a controversial memo released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which directed a halt to financial assistance programs, prompting a legal challenge from a coalition of nonprofit organizations.
The judge’s order expands an initial pause that was implemented just before the funding freeze was set to take effect. In her recent ruling, AliKhan prohibited the administration from enforcing or reinstating the directives outlined in the OMB memo under any new guise. Furthermore, she mandated that the OMB provide the court with a status report on its compliance by the end of the week, emphasizing that any previously frozen awards must be released.
AliKhan criticized the administration’s approach, stating that it attempted to undermine Congress’s constitutional authority over federal funding. She described the administration’s actions as an effort to usurp the power of the purse from the legislative branch, which is the only entity entitled to manage appropriations.
The White House has not yet commented on the court’s latest ruling. However, after rescinding the OMB memo last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that the administration’s goal of curtailing what it deems excessive federal spending would continue unabated.
The legal challenge was spearheaded by a coalition that includes prominent organizations such as the National Council of Nonprofits, Democracy Forward, and the American Public Health Association. Following the judge’s decision, these groups expressed relief and criticized the administration’s funding freeze as reckless. Diane Yentel, president of the National Council of Nonprofits, remarked that the ruling provides much-needed clarity for nonprofits that had been left in uncertainty due to the administration’s actions.
In a related development, a separate federal judge in Rhode Island has also issued a temporary restraining order against the administration’s funding freeze. This ruling was prompted by a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, further complicating the administration’s attempts to implement its funding strategy.
As the legal battles continue, the implications of these rulings could significantly impact the administration’s approach to federal funding and its relationships with nonprofit organizations reliant on federal grants.