Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island John J. McConnell, Jr. granted an injunction from 23 states blocking the Trump administration's "categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds.

Judge John J. McConnell Jr. granted 23 states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, a preliminary injunction, ordering the Trump administration to allow federal funding appropriated by Congress to flow.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. said the attempt to pause trillions in federal spending "fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government."

A federal judge in Rhode Island extended a block on president Donald Trump's domestic funding freeze. U.S. District judge John J. McConnell Jr. granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from impounding federal funds based on a directive by the Office of Management and Budget,

Rhode Island’s attorney general is backing a federal judge’s decision to extend a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars

The ruling found the move to cut off appropriated funds to state governments “fundamentally undermines” democracy.

"Here, the executive put itself above Congress," a federal judge wrote, issuing a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from freezing federal assistance.