By LINDSAY WHITEHURST
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal choose discovered Monday that the Trump administration hasn’t totally adopted his order to unfreeze federal spending and informed the White Home to launch all the cash.
U.S. District Court docket Choose John McConnell discovered there’s proof that some federal grants and loans are nonetheless not going out to the recipients and ordered that the money be launched.
McConnell ordered a halt to Trump administration plans for a sweeping freeze of federal funding in late January. The Republican administration has mentioned the pause was vital to make sure federal spending matches with the president’s agenda.
The choose mentioned his momentary restraining order additionally blocks the administration from making billions of {dollars} in cuts to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being that have been introduced Friday.
“These pauses in funding violate the plain text of the (temporary restraining order),” he wrote. “The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country.”
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a message in search of remark. The administration has mentioned in courtroom paperwork that it was making good-faith efforts to adjust to the choose’s ruling.
The Justice Division argued that the choose’s ruling didn’t apply to different spending pauses, together with funds that have been a part of President Joe Biden’s signature local weather, well being care and tax package deal. McConnell disagreed.
The order is available in a lawsuit filed by almost two dozen states.
A distinct federal choose in Washington has issued a short lived restraining order towards the funding freeze plan and since expressed concern that nonprofit teams weren’t getting their funding.
Related Press author Chris Megerian contributed to this story.
Initially Printed: February 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM EST
