Judge blocks Trump’s ‘irrational,’ ‘ill-conceived’ freeze on federal spending

Summary

A federal judge indefinitely blocked the Trump administration's freeze of federal funding, calling it "irrational," "ill-conceived," and one that "precipitated a nationwide crisis."

Judge Loren AliKhan granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Office of Management and Budget's directive that had paused up to $3 trillion in spending.

Though the OMB issued a second memo purporting to rescind the order, the judge dismissed it as "an empty gesture" that was "at best... meaningless."

The plaintiffs, including the National Council of Nonprofits, argued that funding pauses would have "catastrophic or fatal consequences" for their organizations.