Fact Check: "14 states win partial injunction against Trump's funding freeze!"
What We Know
On March 6, 2025, a coalition of 23 attorneys general, led by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, secured a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. This injunction was aimed at blocking the Trump Administration's policy that froze federal funding to states for essential programs, including Medicaid and disaster relief funding (NJOAG Press Release). The court found that the states demonstrated a high likelihood of success in their claims that the funding freeze was unlawful.
The ruling came after the coalition filed a lawsuit on January 28, 2025, challenging the legality of the funding freeze, which was implemented via a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (NJOAG Press Release). The preliminary injunction was granted following a temporary restraining order (TRO) that had been issued earlier on January 31, 2025, which temporarily halted the freeze until further court orders could be made (NJOAG Press Release).
In a separate but related case, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release billions in funding for electric vehicle (EV) chargers in 14 states, including Arizona, California, and New York. This ruling was part of a lawsuit filed by 16 states and the District of Columbia, which argued that the Trump administration did not have the authority to block these congressionally approved funds (Fortune, Fox Business).
Analysis
The claim that "14 states win partial injunction against Trump's funding freeze" is partially true. The preliminary injunction granted by the U.S. District Court indeed involved a coalition of 23 attorneys general, which includes states that were affected by the funding freeze. However, the mention of "14 states" specifically relates to a different case concerning EV charger funding, where a federal judge ordered the release of funds to 14 states, not necessarily linked to the broader funding freeze injunction (Fortune, Fox Business).
The credibility of the sources involved is generally high. The NJOAG press release is an official document from a state government, providing a reliable account of the legal actions taken. The rulings reported by Fortune and Fox Business are based on judicial decisions and reflect the outcomes of legal proceedings, which adds to their reliability. However, the potential for bias exists, particularly in how different outlets may frame the implications of these rulings in relation to political narratives surrounding the Trump administration.
Conclusion
The claim that "14 states win partial injunction against Trump's funding freeze" is partially true. While it correctly identifies that a coalition of states achieved a significant legal victory against the Trump administration's funding freeze, the specific reference to "14 states" pertains to a separate ruling regarding electric vehicle funding. Therefore, the claim is misleading in its specificity but captures the essence of the legal challenges against the Trump administration's funding policies.
