Trump’s White House Rescinds OMB Federal Aid Freeze Memo
Um, what?
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent out a memo rescinding its previous memo that froze federal aid.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the lawsuit and temporary administrative stay on the freeze led to the backdown.
Numerous nonprofits and NGOs sued, claiming the freeze violated the Administrative Procedure Act:
Plaintiffs allege that the implicated federal grants and funding “are the lifeblood of operations and programs for many . . . nonprofits, and even a short pause in funding . . . could deprive people and communities of their life-saving services.” They argue that Defendants’ action was arbitrary and capricious, violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and exceeded OMB’s statutory authority.Along with their complaint, Plaintiffs sought a temporary restraining order “barring the OMB and all of its officers, employees, and agents from taking any steps to implement, apply, or enforce Memo M-25-13.”
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan placed an administrative stay on the funding freeze instead of a temporary retsraining order
“The purpose of a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo while the court considers the merits of the case,” wrote AliKhan.
To get that order, the plaintiffs have to prove numerous factors.
“Given the weighty legal issues in this case, and to properly evaluate the merits of Plaintiffs’ motion, the court will require full briefing from the parties and a motions hearing,” added AliKhan. “While the court awaits full briefing and argument, it may issue a brief ‘administrative stay.'”
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