08-02-2025
23 states seeking to block Trump funding freeze ask judge to enforce restraining order
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The nearly two dozen state attorneys general suing the Trump administration over his federal funding freeze are calling on a Rhode Island judge to enforce an already-imposed restraining order, saying the president is actively flaunting the court's decision.
Rhode Island U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell last week granted a temporary restraining order to block President Donald Trump's freeze of Congress-approved funds across the country, and he extended the order on Thursday.
RELATED: RI federal judge temporarily blocks Trump's funding freeze
But 23 Democratic state attorneys general who filed the restraining order said the Trump administration continues to deny entities access to funds. And they're now asking McConnell to order the administration 'immediately to take every step necessary to effectuate the order, including clearing any administrative, operational, or technical hurdles to implementation,' according to the motion.
'As long as this administration continues to break the law, we will continue our fight to uphold it,' R.I. Attorney General Neronha said in a statement. 'These lingering funding pauses are not coincidental. So let me be as crystal clear as Judge McConnell's order: we're not interested in playing these games, especially when it comes to funding programs that Americans rely on to survive and thrive.'
The motion comes as congressional leaders, state agencies and federally supported nonprofits report having issues accessing funds they were granted before Trump became president.
The R.I. Office of Energy Resources confirmed Friday the agency hasn't been able to access $125 million in federal funds awarded to the state through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The money is supposed to go toward clean-energy rebates, solar programs, utility infrastructure and electric-charging satiations.
'OER is working with the governor's office and the attorney general's office to resolve this issue in light of the temporary restraining order,' OER spokesperson Robert Beadle said in a statement.
On Thursday, Rhode Island Rep. Seth Magaziner posted on social media: 'I am hearing from community health centers all across Rhode Island that their federal funding has been cut off today.'
Rhode Island Health Care Association president and CEO Elena Nicolella confirmed the state's eight community health centers 'have experienced challenges drawing down their federal grant funds over the last week.'
State attorneys general argued in court documents the Trump administration hasn't been disbursing funds through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, along with the inflation Reduction Act, which were passed by Congress to bolster funding for climate and and infrastructure projects.
'Federal grantor agencies have replied to state agency inquiries with receipt-acknowledging non-answers or not replied at all — and often meetings with agency grant offices remain cancelled,' the attorneys wrote in the motion.
In Washington, a financial and operation director at the University of Washington International Training and Education Center for Health reported not receiving funds for ongoing projects, including programs to prevent HIV transmission.
'I-TECH staff and faculty were shocked and surprised to receive these stop-work orders, which appeared to conflict' with the judge's order, wrote the director in an affidavit.
Neronha said a Brown University project researching dementia care was scheduled for a review to renew the funding with the National Institutes of Health. But on the day of the review, NIH canceled the meeting, he added.
Trump officials initially ordered the funding freeze through a memo to federal agencies, saying it was necessary to ensure all American spending aligned with the president's policy goals.
The administration later rescinded the memo amid widespread confusion and pushback, but only offered vague guidance as to whether funding would continue to flow.
This states' legal action was initially filed by states attorney generals in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey.
It was later joined by Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
The states' top prosecutors said Friday they are not seeking any sanctions at this time.
McConnell is also considering whether to order a preliminary injunction in the matter, which would create a more permanent legal block to freezing federal funds. Both were expected to file motions on that matter Friday.
'I think we share the plaintiffs' desire for expedition and resolution of the preliminary injunction motion,' said Daniel Schwei, an attorney representing the Trump administration, during a hearing on Thursday.
Eli Sherman (esherman@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook.
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