The federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration's efforts to temporarily suspend a lower court order to halt the president's fragile federal funding freeze.
The court said the administration was unable to provide details about the potential harm caused by halting the freeze on federal payments for grants, loans and other programs.
“[T]His defendant has not cited the authority to uphold the request for a administrative stay or does not identify any harm related to a particular funding measure or litigation that he faces without the requested administrative stay,” the U.S. Court of Appeals said. The three judge panel of judges pointed out by the first circuit.
“In these circumstances, we assume we have jurisdiction and deny any claims of unbiased administrative stay.” The ruling statedthe judge notes that the Trump administration has pending suspension requests with a judge who blocked a fundraising freeze last month.
“The district court will dispatch the defendant to provide necessary clarification, among other things, regarding the February 10th claim that “both the president and the federal government will prohibit the exercise of its own legal authority.” I'm sure. To withhold funds without prior approval from the district court,” the appeals court wrote.
District Judge John McConnell issued a temporary restraining order on Jan. 31 that prevented the Trump administration from temporarily freezing grants, loans and other programs.
McConnell, former President Barack Obama appointee, ordered federal agencies on Monday to immediately recover suspension or withholding spending, claiming that the Trump administration had not complying with previous orders.
President Trump's Justice Department tried to appeal McConnell's first ruling and subsequent orders demand a recovery in suspension spending.
The Delaware-based judge issued the ruling after lawsuits were filed against the Trump administration by a group of Democrat Attorney Generals from 22 states and the District of Columbia.
