Judge rules Trump's broad spending pause violates Constitution

A federal judge declared Thursday that President Trump’s attempt to pause potentially trillions of dollars in government grants and contracts violates the Constitution and cannot proceed.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. is the stiffest legal spanking yet for Mr. Trump’s spending plans.

Judge McConnell said the Constitution gives Congress the power to spend taxpayers’ money and the president has only limited leeway — where Congress specifically delegates it.

Mr. Trump’s broad freeze goes well beyond what Congress has allowed, the judge ruled.

“Here, the Executive put itself above Congress. It imposed a categorical mandate on the spending of congressionally appropriated and obligated funds without regard to Congress’ authority to control spending,” said Judge McConnell, the chief federal district judge in Rhode Island.

He previously issued a restraining order on Mr. Trump’s spending pause, but his latest ruling converts that into a preliminary injunction, which is a more lasting legal bar to the president’s action.

It also gives the president a sturdier legal ruling to appeal to higher courts.

The judge cited at least five presidential executive orders that halted spending under the Inflation Reduction Act and the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure spending law; money for programs benefiting illegal immigrants; diversity, equity and inclusion spending; “gender ideology” spending; and foreign aid.

The judge also cited a follow-up memo from the White House budget office carrying out the executive orders.

Judge McConnell said agencies cannot act on the budget office directive, at least as it pertains to spending in the 21 states and the District of Columbia, who were the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.