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Judge Loren AliKhan Temporarily Blocks Trump's Federal Funding Freeze Until February 3rd

Jan 28, 2025, 10:35 PM

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's directive to freeze federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance, issuing an administrative stay minutes before the funding freeze was set to take effect on Tuesday at 5 p.m. EST. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan's order pauses the freeze until Monday, February 3rd, allowing time for further legal arguments. The Trump administration's plan to halt federal spending had caused widespread concern and confusion among schools, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and programs that serve tens of millions of Americans. The White House Office of Management and Budget had instructed federal agencies to suspend ongoing financial assistance programs, leading to lawsuits from advocacy groups and several Democratic state attorneys general. Earlier, the White House clarified that the order did not impact benefits like Medicare, welfare, and SNAP. The judge's decision seeks to maintain the status quo while the court considers the potential impact of the funding freeze on existing programs.