Trump administration appeals federal judge’s order to unfreeze federal funds
The Trump administration is once again fighting against a federal judge’s order to release frozen federal funding. This latest legal battle is taking place in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The move comes shortly after a federal judge in Rhode Island demanded that President Donald Trump’s administration unfreeze federal funds, citing non-compliance with a previous court order.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a new motion on Monday, instructing the Trump administration to adhere to a restraining order issued on Jan. 31. This order temporarily halted the administration’s attempts to pause federal grants and loans. The initial restraining order was a response to a challenge from 22 states and the District of Columbia regarding the administration’s actions to withhold funds for programs like the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant and other Environmental Protection Agency initiatives. However, the states claim that the administration has not fully released the funds as directed.
A White House spokesperson, Harrison Fields, defended the administration’s actions, stating that every executive order issued is lawful and any legal challenge is an attempt to undermine the will of the American people. The Office of Management and Budget had initially announced a temporary pause on federal grants and loans on Jan. 27, but later rescinded the memo on Jan. 29. Despite this reversal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the freeze on federal funding was still in effect.
McConnell’s motion specifically calls for the restoration of withheld funds from acts passed during the Biden administration, such as the Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The motion also demands the reinstatement of funding for institutions like the National Institutes of Health.
The motion filed on Monday argues that evidence presented by the states indicates that the federal government has improperly frozen funds and failed to distribute allocated federal funds. While the administration claims these actions were taken to combat fraud, McConnell maintains that the broad freeze on federal funds is likely unconstitutional and causing harm to a significant portion of the country.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha commended McConnell’s ruling, emphasizing the importance of the administration complying with the law. He stated that the country is governed by laws, and the administration must follow them. Neronha warned that legal action would be taken if the administration fails to comply with the court’s orders.
In conclusion, the legal battle over frozen federal funding continues as the Trump administration appeals the latest court order. The outcome of this appeal will have significant implications for the release of vital federal funds and the functioning of various government programs. As the case unfolds in the Court of Appeals, stakeholders across the country are closely monitoring the developments.
