Judge temporarily halts Federal aid freeze in effort led by Bonta

With up to $3 trillion at threat of being frozen, around two dozen states sued the Trump administration to halt the freeze.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta led 23 attorneys general on Tuesday in suing the federal government over $3 trillion in federal funding that was ordered to be frozen. 

A federal judge granted the attorneys general a temporary halt on President Donald Trump’s funding pause shortly after the lawsuit was filed. 

Driving the news: The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on Tuesday directing federal agencies to answer a series of questions for each program that has government funding. 

  • The loans and grants with federal funding were scheduled to be paused at 5 p.m. E.T. on Tuesday. 
  • After quick outcry, the Trump administration clarified that programs including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, among others, would not be impacted by the pause. 

The big picture: Bonta and the other 22 attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block the threatened $3 trillion federal assistance freeze. 

  • A federal judge granted them a temporary restraining order to block the freeze from taking immediate effect. 

Zoom in: The lawsuit argued that the funding freeze would cause immediate and irreparable harm and mass regulatory chaos. 

  • States would face immediate cash shortfalls and would be unable to administer basic programs, according to the lawsuit. 
  • The attorneys general argued that the freeze violates the Constitution, saying Congress has not delegated any unilateral authority to the Office of Management and Budget to pause federal financial assistance under any circumstance. They also argued that the freeze violates the separation of powers between Congress and the Executive Branch because Congress has the power of the purse. 

What they’re saying: Bonta accused the Trump administration of recklessly disregarding the health, wellbeing and public safety of Americans. 

  • “This directive is unprecedented in scope and would be devastating if implemented,” Bonta said in a statement. “Already, it has created chaos and confusion among our residents. I will not stand by while the President attempts to disrupt vital programs that feed our kids, provide medical care to our families, and support housing and education in our communities. Instead of learning from the defeats of his first Administration, President Trump is once again plowing ahead with a damaging – and most importantly, unlawful – agenda. I’m proud to co-lead a coalition of attorneys general in taking him to court.” 
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