A second federal choose indefinitely blocked President Trump’s blanket freeze on federal grants and loans, saying the administration “put itself above Congress.”
U.S. District Choose John McConnell’s preliminary injunction in favor of Democratic state attorneys normal provides to a near-identical block imposed by a federal choose within the nation’s capital late final month.
Each lawsuits commenced after Trump’s Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB) issued a now-rescinded memo that instructed federal businesses to pause grants and loans, a sweeping freeze that lined trillions of {dollars} of federal spending.
Beneath McConnell’s order, the Trump administration is indefinitely prohibited from implementing an across-the-board funding freeze underneath a unique identify. Businesses can nonetheless restrict funding entry on an individualized foundation underneath relevant legal guidelines and laws.
“The Executive’s categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government,” wrote McConnell, an appointee of former President Obama.
Led by New York, the lawsuit is introduced by Democratic attorneys normal in Washington, D.C., and 22 states in addition to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D).
It’s one in every of three lawsuits difficult the rescinded OMB memo.
Late final month, a choose equally agreed to dam Trump’s funding freeze plans in a lawsuit introduced by a coalition of nonprofits. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has introduced one more lawsuit however has not but sought a right away injunction.
And past the battles over Trump’s across-the-board pause, teams have filed lawsuits over Trump’s efforts to reshape particular areas of federal spending.
Lawsuits are at the moment pending over the administration’s efforts to freeze overseas help contracts, halt refugee resettlement program funding and cap “indirect costs” in analysis grants.
