A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration violated an order that halted a sweeping freeze on federal funding and ordered the White House to “take every step necessary” to release federally appropriated funds on Monday.
United States District Judge John J. McConnell, Jr.’s ruling — which responds to a lawsuit filed by attorney generals in 22 states — marks the first time a judge has found the new Trump administration in violation of a judicial mandate.
The ruling comes one week after U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a separate restraining order against the funding pause, blocking the White House from “implementing, giving effect to, or reinstating” the order under a different name.
The proposed federal fund freeze would have paused disbursements to all non-profit organizations, local governments, and universities that receive federal funding — a list that includes Harvard. In 2024, the University received $686 million in federal funding, much of which it allocated to medical research and financial aid.
In a five-page order issued Monday, McConnell wrote that the administration has “continued to improperly freeze federal funds and refused to resume disbursements of appropriated federal funds.”
“The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country,” he wrote.
In the Monday ruling, McConnell pointed to the plaintiffs’ allegations that funding disbursements from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and other agencies continue to be delayed.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields called Donald Trump’s order “completely lawful” and slammed the ruling as “nothing more than an attempt to undermine the will of the American people.”
Just one day after Trump’s fund freeze was announced, Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 wrote in a message to University affiliates that some federally funded research projects could be forced to stop work.
The order was halted by a ruling in a separate federal court and eventually rescinded two days later.
McConnell’s Monday ruling sets up a lengthy battle between the White House and the judicial branch.
One day before the ruling, Vice President J.D. Vance questioned the authority of federal judges to restrict Trump’s executive orders, writing in a post on X that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
Trump’s orders have faced concerted challenges from advocacy groups and Democratic politicians, subject to more than 40 lawsuits. In the hours after Trump’s funding pause was first announced, Democrats questioned the constitutionality of the directive.
“One man does not decide how taxpayers’ money is spent,” said Senator Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.) at a press conference.
McConnell’s ruling does not have an expiry date, but a preliminary hearing will be scheduled to determine the legal standing of the order.
—Staff writer Dhruv T. Patel can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @dhruvtkpatel.
—Staff writer Grace E. Yoon can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @graceunkyoon.
