A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., aiming to temporarily block a funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration. The National Council of Nonprofits and the American Public Health Association, the plaintiffs, argue that the freeze, enacted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is illegal. They contend that the administration must pursue its goals within legal boundaries. The funding freeze, which affects all federal grants and loans, was announced in a memo on Monday night.
The lawsuit challenges the legality of the OMB's action, as both organizations criticized the decision's abruptness and potential impact on their operations. They assert that such a freeze could have dire consequences for public health and nonprofit initiatives that rely heavily on federal support. The lawsuit seeks immediate judicial intervention to halt the funding freeze, underscoring the urgency and potential harm caused by the OMB's decision.
Compounding the legal battle, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed that the New York state attorney general's office also plans to file a lawsuit against the funding freeze. This move indicates mounting opposition from various quarters against the Trump administration's directive. The plaintiffs insist that the administration's priorities should not come at the expense of legality and established procedures.
The lawsuit requests the court to temporarily lift the funding freeze while awaiting a final resolution. The plaintiffs emphasize that without judicial relief, many federally funded programs could face significant disruptions, adversely affecting communities nationwide. The case now awaits judicial review in Washington, D.C., with broader implications for federal funding governance.