California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has granted a temporary restraining order to halt a proposed freeze on federal funding. This decision allows continued access to essential federal assistance for disaster recovery, education, public health and safety, and infrastructure projects.
Bonta stated, "Today’s court order ensures our communities are able to continue to access necessary federal funding for disaster recovery, including for California's wildfire recovery efforts; education; public health and safety; and infrastructure projects." He emphasized the importance of this funding amid plans by the administration to proceed with a freeze despite rescinding an OMB directive.
"The Trump Administration is intentionally creating chaos through its public actions and statements," Bonta said. "We will not fall for this bait and switch. California has too much at stake."
The restraining order was issued as part of a lawsuit led by Bonta alongside 22 state attorneys general seeking to block the funding freeze. The decision prevents any action by the Trump Administration to pause or terminate federal financial assistance unless legally permitted.
Additionally, the order mandates that written notice be given by February 3, 2025, to all relevant agencies about this decision. It extends beyond an earlier administrative stay from another court responding to a similar lawsuit from nonprofit groups reliant on federal funds.
Bonta expressed gratitude for the court's ruling and reaffirmed his commitment to opposing what he termed as "the President’s disastrous federal funding freeze."