The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to weaponize federal funding, freezing essential funds, and halting grants of all types, harming people and communities across the country. Only seven days in, the administration issued a sweeping memo freezing, without notice or discretion, “all federal financial assistance.” Democracy Forward and Democratic state Attorneys General (AGs) acted quickly by filing lawsuits on behalf of non-profit organizations, public health leaders, small businesses, and states and their residents within less than 24 hours of the memos release. In response to these suits, brought by Democracy Forward and state AGs, federal courts ruled on multiple occasions to halt the freeze.
This memo describes how Democracy Forward, state AGs, and related plaintiffs and partners used legal tools to block the administration’s January 2025 sudden, callous, and unlawful freeze on essential federal funding, which is the lifeblood of critical services to people and communities. The success blocking Trump’s attempted freeze of federal grants and funding demonstrates the power of the courts, advocates, communities, state leaders, and unified, quick action to slow and stop the Trump administration’s attempted abuses of power. This memo will continue to be updated as the situation warrants.