Federal judge signals new restraining order on Trump's 'catastrophic' funding freeze

U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan said she was inclined to issue a restraining order against the Trump administration because it had not complied with another judge who said that a federal spending freeze must be halted.

Last week, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island first issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans. Democrat-led states had sought the order.

"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," McConnell said.

On Monday, AliKhan signaled that she would also issue a temporary restraining order sought by U.S. nonprofit agencies, according to reports.

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AliKhan said the funding freeze was potentially "catastrophic" and that she would likely grant the restraining order before 5 p.m.