New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that a court has granted a motion filed by her office and a coalition of 22 other attorneys general to halt the implementation of a Trump administration policy. This policy aimed to block federal agency grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs.
“This administration’s reckless plan to block federal funding has already caused chaos, confusion, and conflict throughout our country," stated Attorney General James. "In the short time since this policy was announced, families have been cut off from childcare services, essential Medicaid funds were disrupted, and critical law enforcement efforts were put in jeopardy. I led a coalition of attorneys general in suing to stop this cruel policy, and today we won a court order to stop it. The President cannot unilaterally halt congressional spending commitments. I will continue to fight against these illegal cuts and protect essential services that New Yorkers and millions of Americans across the country depend on.”
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted the request for a temporary restraining order, halting the implementation of the administration's policy. This order extends beyond an earlier administrative stay granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia following a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups receiving federal funds.
The proposed policy from the President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would have indefinitely paused most federal assistance, affecting health care, education, law enforcement, disaster relief, infrastructure, among others. On January 28th, Attorney General James along with attorneys general from 22 states sued to prevent its enforcement.
Despite rescinding the memo announcing this policy, states and organizations reliant on federal funding remain at risk for significant disruptions. Medicaid funds in several states were frozen following initial announcements; Head Start programs faced fund cuts leading some childcare centers to close; in Syracuse, a community health center serving low-income communities planned borrowing measures to meet payroll amidst closure threats if policies were enacted.
Attorney General James led this lawsuit alongside counterparts from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island with additional support from Arizona's attorney generals through Wisconsin including Washington D.C.