Day: February 13, 2025

Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump, quite sensibly, paused some federal spending programs to see whether they are lawful and advance America’s interests, which he had promised voters he would do. That temporary delay, however, set off a firestorm among the liberal states and organizations that, as recent disclosures have revealed, have benefited immensely and unjustifiably from the government’s largesse.

Some states and the District of Columbia convinced a federal district judge to temporarily block Trump’s spending pause, arguing (quite hyperbolically) that the pause would irreparably harm “the social fabric of life” in their jurisdictions. In just a few days, and without full briefs from the parties, Chief Judge John McConnell of the District of Rhode Island concluded that this spending pause was unlawful, because no statute authorizes the president to delay the disbursement of congressionally appropriated funds, the pause was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act, and it is unconstitutional because Congress has the spending power, not the president.