Trump appeals after judge orders him to undo federal spending freeze
The Trump administration has filed an appeal against a federal judge’s order that mandates the full restoration of all previously frozen federal spending. This legal dispute originated from an executive directive issued by President Trump that halted several federal expenditures, which lead too a lawsuit involving 22 Democratic state attorneys general and the District of Columbia. thes states argue that the funding freeze unlawfully blocked essential resources, such as billions allocated for environmental and infrastructure projects.
In a recent ruling,U.S. district Judge John McConnell found that the administration was in violation of his earlier order and insisted that all affected funds be reinstated. The Trump administration is now challenging this ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit,requesting a suspension of McConnell’s orders while the appeal is processed. The appellate court will also determine if the administration’s noncompliance coudl result in contempt of court. notable funds at stake include $4.5 billion for a home electrification program and $7 billion for solar installations. A separate lawsuit from nonprofit organizations is also examining the issue in Washington.
Trump appeals after judge orders him to undo federal spending freeze
The Trump administration on Monday appealed a federal judge’s order requiring the full restoration of all previously frozen federal spending, escalating a legal battle over the administration’s budgetary freeze.
The appeal, filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, challenges multiple rulings by U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, including his finding that the administration remains in violation of his previous order against Trump’s federal aid freeze. The administration is seeking an immediate suspension of McConnell’s rulings while the case proceeds.
The legal dispute stems from an executive directive by President Donald Trump that halted a wide range of federal expenditures, prompting a lawsuit from 22 Democratic state attorneys general and the District of Columbia. The states and the district argue that the freeze unlawfully blocked critical funding, including billions of dollars for environmental and infrastructure programs.
Last week, the Obama-appointed judge sided with the states, ruling that all funds must be restored at least until a hearing on a longer-term order. The Trump administration, however, maintained that certain funding, including payments for environmental and infrastructure projects, remained frozen due to “operational and administrative reasons.”
McConnell dismissed that argument Monday, stating that his previous order was “clear and unambiguous” in requiring the reinstatement of all affected funding and holding that the administration failed to comply with his previous order.
The judge offered a subtle hint that failing to comply with his order could result in “contempt,” citing a 1974 Supreme Court ruling. The 1st Circuit could issue an order as to whether a contempt holding can be made while the administration is now appealing McConnell’s order to higher courts.
Among the funds at issue are $4.5 billion for a home electrification rebate program, $7 billion for rooftop solar installations, $5 billion for state and tribal greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, and $117.5 million for air-quality monitoring, according to Reuters.
A second court fight, brought by a coalition of nonprofit organizations, is underway in Washington. The judge in that case also temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing the pause on government aid.
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