A federal judge in Washington has stated that despite a court order and the Office of Management and Budget’s decision to rescind a memo freezing federal aid spending, some forms of federal aid funding still appear to be blocked. President Trump had ordered a freeze on domestic and foreign aid funding that did not align with his agenda, which was later rescinded by the Office of Management and Budget. However, challenges to the initial order are ongoing in the court system.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan granted a temporary restraining order blocking the funding freeze, highlighting that some organizations are still unable to access federal funding they were previously awarded. Declarations from various nonprofits have shown that rural health centers, research labs, childcare facilities, and other organizations have not received expected funds despite the court order.
The CEO of a rural health center expressed concerns about the impact of the funding freeze on patient care, emphasizing the need for federal funding to be restored. The president and CEO of the National Counsel of Nonprofits also highlighted concerns that many nonprofits are still unable to access their disbursements, despite the rescission of the OMB memo.
The temporary restraining order issued by AliKhan does not change the current situation but echoes a similar court order issued in Rhode Island in a case brought by Democratic state attorneys general. The order brings attention to the ongoing challenges faced by organizations seeking federal aid in light of the attempts to freeze funding that do not align with the Trump administration’s agenda.
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