Attorney General Anne Lopez has announced a preliminary victory in the lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's Office of Management & Budget memo, which aimed to freeze federal grants and loans. A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order that stops the Trump administration from pausing or blocking access to federal funding. This order will remain effective until a decision is made on a motion for preliminary injunction.
Attorney General Lopez emphasized the importance of cooperation between states and the federal government, stating, “The citizens of Hawaiʻi pay taxes to the federal government, and the federal government, in return, provides federal funds to Hawaiʻi for programs that pay for crucial services such as law enforcement and healthcare."
Hawaiʻi's legal team includes Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes and Special Assistant Dave Day. They expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, noting it prevents any hindrance to accessing lawfully granted federal funds.
The coalition's lawsuit contends that the Trump administration’s actions violate constitutional principles by imposing new conditions on already awarded funding. Despite President Trump rescinding the memo hours before an initial hearing, public statements suggested that the freeze was still active. The states argued this was an attempt to sidestep legal proceedings. Judge John J. McConnell dismissed arguments from the Department of Justice claiming that rescinding the memo negated grounds for a lawsuit.
Judge McConnell stated that Congress had not given limitless power to pause funds directed to specific recipients and purposes, emphasizing a violation of separation of powers by overriding congressional policy choices.
Programs affected by the funding freeze include WIC nutrition support, Head Start preschool services, LIHEAP energy assistance, Medicare enrollment help, school meals for low-income students, support for homeless veterans and victims of domestic violence, refugee assistance programs including English classes and job placement services. Public safety initiatives related to Medicaid fraud investigation are also impacted.
States joining Hawaiʻi in this legal action are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin and District of Columbia.
A copy of Judge McConnell's decision is available online.