RI federal judge orders Trump administration to restore frozen funding, abide by temporary restraining order

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell ordered the Trump administration Monday to abide by a recent temporary restraining order and restore all frozen federal funds.

According to McConnell:

The States have presented evidence in this motion that the Defendants in some cases have continued to improperly freeze federal funds and refused to resume disbursement of appropriated federal funds…The Defendants now plea that they are just trying to root out fraud. But the freezes in effect now were a result of the broad categorical order, not a specific finding of possible fraud.

Rhode Island is among the plaintiff states with Attorney General Peter Neronha heading up the Ocean State’s participation in the restraining order.

The decision by Chief Judge O’Connell also stated that the funding freeze is likely unconstitutional and has “caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country.”

He went on to state that the freezes in funding violate the plain text of the established temporary restraining order against the freezing of funds.

Trump’s initial executive order was issued on January 27, and was rescinded on January 28.

The full decision can be read here.

ABC6 will continue to monitor for response from the Trump administration on this matter.