Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Frozen Funds Immediately

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration violated his order by not restoring federal funds that had been frozen. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell mandated the administration to immediately restore frozen funding, emphasizing that failure to comply would lead to ongoing harm in several states.

McConnell’s order comes after a coalition of 22 states filed a motion claiming that the federal government continued to improperly freeze funds despite his temporary restraining order issued on Jan. 31. The states argued that the Office of Management and Budget had not resumed disbursement of appropriated funds, despite the judge’s clear directive.

The judge stated in his ruling, “The States have presented evidence… that the Defendants in some cases have continued to improperly freeze federal funds.” He reiterated that the order lifting the freeze was “clear and unambiguous,” and described the funding pauses as likely unconstitutional.

In response to the ruling, McConnell indicated the freezes violate his order designed to halt disruptions that have impacted jobs and resources across the states. “Jobs, lives, and the social fabric of life in the Plaintiff States are at risk from the disruptions and uncertainty,” the coalition stated in their last week’s motion.

The Justice Department has not commented on the latest order, although it filed a notice of appeal against both of McConnell’s recent rulings on Monday.

In a related response, President Trump criticized judges for what he termed “bad rulings” during a radio interview, expressing discontent with judicial oversight. “Judges should be ruling. They shouldn’t be dictating what you’re supposed to be doing,” Trump stated.

Separately, unions representing employees at the federal level claimed that they observed non-compliance with a different judge’s order regarding employees placed on administrative leave due to Trump’s executive actions. An emergency hearing was requested after it was determined that employees could not access necessary systems to verify their employment status.

Justice Department representatives defended the funding freeze by asserting that some types of funding were not covered under the judge’s order and were being withheld for review to root out potential fraud.

The unprecedented ruling follows a broader investigation into executive actions that have suspended federal funds and disrupted established practices without congressional approval. “The Executive’s action unilaterally suspends the payment of federal funds to the States and others simply by choosing to do so,” McConnell illustrated in a previous ruling.

In his last month’s ruling on the matter, Judge McConnell captured the gravity of the situation, concluding that the executive orders from the Trump administration, by pausing federal funding, raised significant constitutional concerns and unintended consequences.

As litigation unfolds, the funding disbursement will remain under scrutiny, with the case expected to continue hearing later this month. The results of these legal proceedings could set significant precedents regarding executive authority over federal spending.