'Crucial step': Washington, Oregon attorneys general react after judge blocks Trump admin's federal funding freeze

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After nearly two dozen states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's federal funding freeze, Oregon and Washington attorneys general are praising a judge's decision to block the policy on Friday.

On Friday, Rhode Island U.S. District Judge John McConnell granted a temporary restraining order against the federal Office of Management and Budget's proposed policy that put an indefinite pause on a majority of federal assistance.

This led to some states being denied access to Medicaid reimbursements, Head Start funds, and blocked access to fund services such as child support, law enforcement grants, and domestic violence programs.

“Are there some aspects of the pause that might be legal and appropriate constitutionally for the Executive to take? The Court imagines there are, but it is equally sure that there are many instances in the Executive Orders’ wide-ranging, all-encompassing, and ambiguous ‘pause’ of critical funding that are not,” Rhode Island U.S. District Judge John McConnell wrote in his decision on Friday, as reported by The Hill.

“The Court must act in these early stages of the litigation under the ‘worst case scenario’ because the breadth and ambiguity of the Executive’s action makes it impossible to do otherwise,” he continued. 

Reacting to the order, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said, “This outcome reminds us that our country is still governed by the Constitution, even when we have a lawless president determined to sow disorder and eliminate vital programs," adding, “Now more than ever, states have a key role in upholding the rule of law.”

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said, “The court’s ruling marks a crucial step in holding the administration accountable for overreach and its disregard for the law,” adding, “The judge’s decision ensures that Oregonians will continue to receive a number of essential services that affect public safety, health and nutrition. If the administration continues to overstep its authority, we are prepared to keep fighting to make sure that the rights of Oregonians are not undermined by unlawful actions.”

Friday’s order extends a previous administrative stay that was granted Tuesday by another judge in Washington D.C. in response to a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups that receive federal funds.

Officials explained that even though the Trump administration has rescinded the policy, states and organizations that receive federal funding are still seeing major disruptions, including Medicaid funds being frozen in several states.

Attorney General Brown's office said despite the White House "signaling" plans to re-issue the order in some form, Friday's restraining order bans the administration from implementing the policy for now.

The policy was rescinded after the Trump administration received backlash from some lawmakers, including Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who held a joint press conference on Monday -- with Kotek calling OMB's policy a “dereliction of the federal government’s duty to protect Americans.”

The multi-state lawsuit from Friday's ruling was led by attorneys general in New York, California, Illinoi, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Other states joined, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.