Federal judge in RI orders Trump administration to unfreeze grants

U.S. District Judge John McConnell wrote in a brief order on Monday that that the Trump administration needs to “immediately” end its federal funding pause until he can decide whether a longer-term block will be allowed while litigation is decided.

Specifically, McConnell said that funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as for the NIH must be restored as part of the order.

“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,” McConnell wrote.

The Office of Management and Budget sent a memo last month ordering the pause while an assessment was done to make sure spending aligned with Trump's agenda, sparking immediate lawsuits.

The memo was withdrawn, but opponents argued that the freeze was still in effect.

The administration said in a filing that it had made "good faith efforts" to comply with the order to unfreeze the funds.