Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that courts have issued preliminary injunctions against the Trump administration's funding policies. The first injunction blocked a decision to freeze federal funding to states, while the second stopped cuts to medical and public health research funds.
Raoul stated, "States and research institutions rely on federal funding to provide services our residents rely on. These two preliminary injunctions will prevent the Trump administration’s ludicrous and unlawful policies from being enacted."
A U.S. District Court judge in Rhode Island granted an injunction after Raoul and a coalition sued to block the funding freeze, which would affect grants, loans, and financial assistance programs. The court found that the states were likely to succeed in their claims that the policy was unlawful.
The coalition initially filed suit on January 28, with a temporary restraining order granted on January 31. A motion for enforcement was granted on February 8, requiring compliance with the order to unfreeze funds. Another motion was filed on February 28 regarding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants.
If implemented, the freeze would jeopardize state programs providing health services, disaster relief, and more. In Illinois specifically, it threatens initiatives like the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Separately, a Massachusetts court issued an injunction preventing cuts by the Department of Health and Human Services and National Institutes of Health (NIH). This protects biomedical research funding crucial for advancements in medical treatments.
On February 10, a restraining order barred NIH from cutting research funds following a lawsuit by Raoul's coalition. NIH is vital for U.S. medical research funding leading to significant scientific breakthroughs.
Joining Raoul are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin.