Judge Blocks Trump’s Order to Freeze Federal Aid

Staff Writer
President Donald Trump. (Photo: Archive)

A federal judge has temporarily stopped President Donald Trump’s directive to freeze federal aid just moments before it was set to start on Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued the decision, granting a “brief administrative stay” to keep the flow of federal funds going at least until Monday. This came after a group of nonprofit and public health organizations filed a lawsuit against the move.

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AliKhan made the ruling after a last-minute video conference, which took place about an hour before the freeze was supposed to begin.

Trump’s plan was announced in a memo on Monday night by Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The memo directed federal agencies to temporarily halt all actions related to distributing federal funds. The freeze was intended to give the government time to review whether the spending aligned with Trump’s agenda.

The Trump administration defended the plan, saying it would not apply to all federal aid. They emphasized that Social Security and other direct payments to individuals would not be affected.

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In court filings, the Justice Department argued that the freeze’s limited scope was a reason to reject the nonprofits’ request for an immediate court order. The government also pointed out that the groups hadn’t shown they would miss any upcoming grants if the freeze went ahead.

“The proceedings should unfold on a reasonable timeline, allowing for due consideration of Plaintiffs’ claims,” the Justice Department wrote.

The lawsuit was filed by the National Council of Nonprofits, SAGE (a pro-LGBTQ group for older adults), the American Public Health Association, and the Main Street Alliance, a small-business organization. They are being represented by Democracy Forward, a legal group that often challenges Trump’s policies in court.

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The organizations argued that Trump’s plan was illegal and would cause chaos for many people and groups.

“This memo—released with barely twenty-four hours’ notice, with no legal basis, and no clear explanation—will devastate thousands of grant recipients who depend on these funds,” the groups said in their court filing.

In addition to the nonprofits’ lawsuit, a number of Democratic state attorneys general, led by New York, also announced plans to sue over the freeze later on Tuesday.

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