Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump-Era Funding Freeze.

A U.S. federal appeals court has maintained a lower court’s injunction against a policy enacted during the Trump administration that sought to freeze approximately $3 trillion in federal financial assistance. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Boston, ruled on Wednesday that the injunction would remain in effect while the government pursues its appeal.

The original injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge John McConnell in March, was in response to a suit brought by attorneys general from multiple states and the District of Columbia, who argued the administration exceeded its authority. The contested policy stemmed from a January 2017 memo instructing agencies to temporarily halt spending on federal assistance programs. While the memo was later rescinded, the states argued the administration continued to implement similar freezes.

The appeals court affirmed that the injunction only prohibits broad, categorical funding freezes, not all agency funding decisions. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin lauded the decision. The White House has yet to comment. The administration could pursue the matter further by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.