Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump Administration's Freeze of Federal Funding to States

A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that blocked the Trump administration's attempt to freeze federal funding to states. The court found that the freeze posed a significant risk to states that rely on the funding and that the administration had effectively subverted Congress in choking off funds.

A coalition of attorneys general from Democratic-led states had sued the administration in January to halt the freeze. They argued that the funding, including critical disaster relief and early childhood education support, was essential to their states and that the freeze would cause irreparable harm.

The appeals court agreed with the lower court, finding that the freeze would force states to take on debt, disrupt planning and operations, and halt research projects at state universities. The court also found that the administration had not provided a valid justification for the freeze.

The Trump administration has not yet commented on the ruling. It is unclear whether the administration will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.