President Donald Trump’s plan to freeze federal spending while reviewing government expenditures received another setback Wednesday, as a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled against the administration’s request to allow the payment pause to continue.
Judge John McConnell of the Rhode Island District Court found that the plaintiffs—including 22 states plus the District of Columbia which are seeking a permanent injunction—could be harmed if the money is not distributed.
“Thus, the Court finds that the risk of irreparable harm to Plaintiffs if the blanket categorical and unauthorized impoundment of funds resumes, paired with the public’s interest in maintaining the status quo pending a full hearing, weighs against issuing a stay on the Court’s Orders pending appeal,” McConnell wrote in the ruling….