Federal Judge Extends Block of DJT’s Federal Funding Freeze

Federal District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan extended a previously issued temporary restraining order to block Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to freeze most federal funding of grants, loans and other funding flows.

The Department of Justice tried to get her to back off, claiming she has no authority to intervene because a memo rescinding the freeze was issued by the Office of Management and Budget. Judge AliKhan rejected the DOJ’s assertion that the case is moot. She expressed concern that Trump appears to be moving ahead with the freeze in defiance of two previous court orders to block his EO. Multiple non-profit organizations provided affidavits warning they may have to shut down soon because they still are not getting federal funding flows designated for them.

Judge AliKhan wrote, “The declarations and evidence presented by Plaintiffs paint a stark picture of nationwide panic in the wake of the funding freeze. Organizations with every conceivable mission — healthcare, scientific research, emergency shelters, and more — were shut out of funding portals or denied critical resources beginning on January 28.”

She also wrote, “The court can think of few things more disingenuous. Preventing a defendant from evading judicial review under such false pretenses is precisely why the voluntary cessation doctrine exists. The rescission, if it can be called that, appears to be nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to prevent this court from granting relief.”

A similar restraining order has been issued by a judge in Rhode Island.

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