A federal judge stepped in on Tuesday to block President Donald Trump’s plan to shut down three important federal agencies that help libraries, museums, minority businesses, and provide mediation services.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled in favor of 21 states, led by Democrats, saying that Trump’s move violated the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers. “It also disregards the fundamental constitutional role of each of the branches of our federal government; specifically, it ignores the unshakable principles that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated,” McConnell wrote in his decision.
The ruling follows a lawsuit over Trump’s March 14 executive order, which aimed to eliminate seven federal agencies as part of his effort to cut down on federal spending. This move resulted in mass layoffs, grant freezes, and severe budget cuts across the agencies.
The lawsuit focused on three agencies: the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). While another judge paused the layoffs at IMLS last week, McConnell’s order is the first to block the shutdown of all three agencies.
The legal challenge was led by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. While Lopez is technically nonpartisan, she is also a Democrat.
McConnell rejected the Trump administration’s claims that the states didn’t have the right to sue, or that the case should be heard in a different court.
The judge emphasized that the states presented “compelling evidence” showing that the shutdowns were already causing harm. “The harms stemming from the dismantling of IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS are already unfolding or are certain to occur,” McConnell said, noting the significant cuts to staff and services these agencies provide.
This isn’t the first time Judge McConnell has blocked Trump’s attempts to freeze federal spending. In the past, he stopped the administration from carrying out a freeze on federal grants, a decision that led to calls for McConnell’s impeachment from some Republican lawmakers.
“Once again, this Court is confronted with a legal challenge by various states, against an Executive Order that attempts to dismantle congressionally sanctioned agencies and ignores congressionally appropriated funds,” McConnell noted in his latest ruling.
