Second judge indefinitely blocks Trump’s sweeping OMB funding freeze

A second federal judge indefinitely blocked President Trump’s blanket freeze on federal grants and loans, saying the administration “put itself above Congress.”

U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s preliminary injunction in favor of Democratic state attorneys general adds to a near-identical block imposed by a federal judge in the nation’s capital late last month.

Both lawsuits commenced after Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a now-rescinded memo that instructed federal agencies to pause grants and loans, a sweeping freeze that covered trillions of dollars of federal spending.

Under McConnell’s order, the Trump administration is indefinitely prohibited from implementing an across-the-board funding freeze under a different name. Agencies can still limit funding access on an individualized basis under applicable laws and regulations.

“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 brought by Democratic attorneys general in Washington, D.C., and 22 states as well as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D).

It is one of three lawsuits challenging the rescinded OMB memo.

Late last month, a judge similarly agreed to block Trump’s funding freeze plans in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of nonprofits. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has brought yet another lawsuit but has not yet sought an immediate injunction.

And beyond the battles over Trump’s across-the-board pause, groups have filed lawsuits over Trump’s efforts to reshape specific areas of federal spending.

Lawsuits are currently pending over the administration’s efforts to freeze foreign aid contracts, halt refugee resettlement program funding and cap “indirect costs” in research grants.

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