Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced a significant development in the lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration regarding a freeze on federal funding. A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the Trump administration from enforcing a blanket freeze on federal grants and loans, which was initiated by the Office of Management & Budget.
Ellison expressed satisfaction with this legal outcome, stating, “I am pleased to have blocked Donald Trump’s illegal attempt to cut off important funding for Minnesota’s schools, police, healthcare, and more.” He emphasized his commitment to defending Minnesotans' well-being against what he described as unlawful actions by the Trump administration.
The lawsuit was filed by Ellison along with attorneys general from 22 other states. It challenges the legality of a memo from the Trump administration that imposed new conditions on previously awarded federal funds. Despite President Trump's rescindment of the memo shortly before an initial hearing, communications from the White House suggested that the funding freeze remained in effect. The states argued that this action was an attempt to avoid legal accountability.
Judge John J. McConnell presided over the case and concluded that President Trump exceeded his authority by attempting to override Congress's policy decisions. In his ruling, Judge McConnell stated, “Congress has not given the Executive limitless power to broadly and indefinitely pause all funds that it has expressly directed to specific recipients and purposes and therefore the Executive’s actions violate the separation of powers.”
The temporary restraining order will remain effective until further court rulings on a motion for preliminary injunction. The frozen funds support various programs across Minnesota and other states, including nutritional assistance for pregnant parents and infants, preschool services for low-income children, home energy assistance during winter months, Medicare enrollment aid, school meals for disadvantaged students, support for homeless veterans reintegration programs, domestic violence victim assistance initiatives, and refugee support services.
States joining Minnesota in this litigation include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island itself (where the case is being heard), Vermont Washington State Wisconsin and also Washington D.C.