As the Trump administration pushes forward on a federal funding freeze for essential organizations and institutions nationwide, two federal judges have moved to check his power but they have been unsuccessful so far.
In the early days of Trump’s second term, he directed Matthew Vaeth – director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – to order all federal agencies and departments to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” According to LGBTQ Nation, Trump issued the freeze to stop funding initiatives that “advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies,” the freeze has prevented numerous social service organizations from accessing pre-allotted funds for various programs including healthcare, childcare, emergency shelters, food assistance, scientific research, workforce trainings and more.”
The memo from Vaeth sent organizations around the country into a tizzy as they found themselves blocked from accessing funds necessary to continue operating. Despite AliKhan’s ruling, government agencies have continued to suspend funding, according to ProPublica.
But there have been attempts at pushback from judicial authorities. Most recently challenging Trump’s freeze was a ruling from United States District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. who found that the executive order violated a judicial mandate after U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a restraining order against the funding pause which was ignored by Trump.
Following the order, Democratic attorneys general across 22 states filed lawsuits against the order including New York State Attorney General Letitia James who called the directive “reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional,” according to Reuters.
McConnell’s five-page order issued on Feb. 10 reads: “The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country.”
In her initial 30-page ruling AliKhan wrote “Organizations with every conceivable mission – healthcare, scientific research, emergency shelters, and more – were shut out of funding portals or denied critical resources beginning on January 28.”
According to LGBTQ+ Nation, AliKhan directed all federal agencies to continue funding any efforts pre-authorized by congressional budgeting law. However, the Department of Justice has attempted to undermine AliKhan saying her ruling interfered with the branch’s authority.
CEO Michael Adams of SAGE, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ elders, said “Restricting federal grants and loans would severely impact the lives of older Americans, including LGBTQ+ elders, who are more vulnerable to health issues, disabilities, and social isolation, and often struggle to access the care and services they need.” He went on to say, “We are grateful for this ruling, which protects our older neighbors, friends, and loved ones from the harmful freeze on federal grants and loans.”
LGBTQ Nation reports that various organizations have echoed Adams’ sentiments. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward said AliKhan’s order is “a lifeline that provides the breathing room needed for our clients to continue to provide services people across this country rely on.”
Various corporations terminated their DEI departments ahead of Trump’s inauguration last month including Walmart, Harley Davidson, Lowes and John Deere. During his first week in office, Trump issued three executive orders to upend three decades-worth of anti-discrimination policy that were progressed by both Democratic and Republican administrations alike, according to ACLU.
Most recently, PBS shuttered its diversity office after facing pressure from the Trump Administration. Other major companies who recently ditched their DEI programming include Deloitte, Pepsi, Chipotle, Disney, Intel and more.
