In a defiant move, a federal judge has blocked President Trump from closing three federal agencies, with the Obama-appointed judge saying that the proposed shuttering of the agencies was a violation of the separation of powers and overreach by the president.
For context, on May 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge John McConnell reportedly sided with over 20 blue states that initiated a lawsuit in an attempt to stop President Trump from closing the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. According to press accounts, Judge McConnell adamantly pushed back against Trump Administration attorneys, who argued that the blue states did not have grounds to sue.
According to press accounts, the coalition of Democratic states that sued over the dismantling of the three agencies was co-led by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, all of whom are Democrats.
Furthermore, according to Fox News, Judge McConnell wrote a statement condemning the proposed agency closures, saying that they disregard “the fundamental constitutional role of each of the branches of our federal government.” McConnell added, “It ignores the unshakable principles that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated.”
In addition, McConnell argued in favor of the states’ lawsuit, describing them as having presented “compelling evidence” that showed “the harms stemming from the dismantling of IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS are already unfolding or are certain to occur.” He added that closing these agencies would cause a “significant reduction in personnel available and competent to administer these agencies’ funds and services and the elimination of certain programs that served the States.”
Additionally, according to press accounts, Judge McConnell previously ordered the Trump Administration to unfreeze federal funding on February 10, 2025, which led to significant backlash from the White House. Following the order, White House Spokesperson Harrison Fields told Fox News, “Each executive order will hold up in court because every action of the Trump-Vance administration is completely lawful.” Fields added, “Any legal challenge against it is nothing more than an attempt to undermine the will of the American people.”
After ordering the Trump Administration to unfreeze federal funding, Judge McConnell accused the administration of violating the order, writing, “The States have presented evidence in this motion that the Defendants in some cases have continued to improperly freeze federal funds and refused to resume disbursement of appropriated federal funds.”
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Adding to his critique of the Trump Administration, Judge McConnell added, “The Defendants now plead that they are just trying to root out fraud. But the freezes in effect now were a result of the broad categorical order, not a specific finding of possible fraud.” He continued, “The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country.”
Featured image credit: United States District Court, District of Rhode Island