Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admin threats to cut Denver’s funding

A federal judge in Washington state has granted Denver and several other local governments a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s threats to withhold federal funding for transportation programs. The lawsuit, filed in May by Denver and dozens of other plaintiffs, argued that the administration’s threats to withhold an estimated $4 billion in critical federal grants exceeded the Executive Branch’s authority and were deemed “unlawful and politically motivated funding conditions” according to the injunction order.

The judge’s ruling stated that the Trump administration likely violated the Separation of Powers doctrine and that its threats to cut funding constituted harm. The order emphasized that the looming risk of losing funding itself was the injury, and that this acute budgetary uncertainty was considered irreparable by the courts.

The lawsuit was initiated after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a memo in April warning recipients of federal funding that they could lose grants if they did not align with the administration’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The memo also stated that failure to assist in enforcing federal immigration policy could result in funding cuts.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston praised the judge’s decision, stating that the city follows all laws at the federal, state, and local levels, and expects the White House to do the same. He expressed appreciation for the court’s ruling, which protected the federal funding that Denverites deserve.

The judge’s decision comes as a relief to Denver and other local governments, ensuring that they can continue to receive the critical federal grants needed for transportation programs. It underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that federal funding is not used as a tool for political motivations.

This ruling serves as a reminder of the checks and balances in place to prevent overreach by the Executive Branch and protect the rights of local governments to receive the funding necessary to serve their communities. It highlights the role of the judiciary in upholding the Constitution and ensuring that the separation of powers is maintained.