Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Funding Cuts to States
A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday, preventing the Trump administration from withholding federal transportation funds from states that don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement.
In response, a coalition of 20 Democratic-led states is preparing to sue President Trump over new policies from the Department of Transportation (DOT) that would cut federal funds. This move ties in closely with immigration enforcement policy.
On his first day in office, Trump had announced a significant executive order aimed at denying federal funding to “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
US District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. called the administration’s efforts unconstitutional, stating they violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
Judge McConnell remarked that the actions taken by the Trump administration were either overly aggressive or exceeded its legal authority, surpassing the boundaries set by Congress under the spending clause.
According to the injunction, the administration is barred from enforcing immigration enforcement terms as suggested by a recent directive. McConnell specifically emphasized that it cannot withhold or terminate federal funds without explicit statutory backing.
Additionally, he noted that the defendants cannot penalize state or local entities by denying them federal funds due to their immigration policies without proper legal approval.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for a comment on this ruling.
Transport Secretary Shawn Duffy has recently warned that states not cooperating with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might have to face the consequences financially. He reiterated this week that federal funds would not flow to “rogue national actors” who refuse compliance with federal immigration laws.
Duffy explained that federal grants are required to be in accordance with federal laws and emphasized that he expects leaders to align better with the administration’s goals.
On this note, Duffy stressed the importance of enforcing immigration rules, asserting that these policies reflect the values of the American people.
