Fact Check: Federal judge blocks Trump from withholding billions in transportation funds over immigration compliance.

Fact Check: Federal judge blocks Trump from withholding billions in transportation funds over immigration compliance

What We Know

On June 19, 2025, a federal judge issued a ruling that prevents the Trump administration from withholding billions of dollars in transportation funding from states that do not comply with immigration enforcement directives. The ruling was made by Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, who granted a preliminary injunction in a case brought by 20 Democratic-led states against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Secretary, Sean Duffy. The judge stated that the states would suffer "large-scale irreparable harm" without the injunction (NPR, Reuters).

The DOT had previously imposed conditions on the disbursement of transportation grant funds, requiring states to adhere to immigration enforcement as a prerequisite for receiving federal funding. This directive was referred to as the "Duffy Directive," which the states argued was coercive and unrelated to the intended purposes of the transportation funding (AP News, CNN). Judge McConnell found no plausible connection between immigration enforcement compliance and the purposes of the transportation funds as appropriated by Congress (Reuters).

Analysis

The ruling by Judge McConnell is significant as it underscores the limits of executive authority in imposing conditions on federal funding. The judge's decision was based on the argument that the DOT's requirements lacked a legal basis and were unrelated to the funding's intended use, which is to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure (AP News).

The credibility of the sources reporting on this ruling is generally high. Major news outlets such as NPR, Reuters, and AP News are known for their journalistic standards and fact-checking processes. They provide detailed accounts of the legal arguments and the implications of the ruling, which adds to their reliability. However, it's important to note that the framing of the issue can vary slightly between sources, with some emphasizing the political ramifications more than others (CNN, NBC News).

The ruling reflects a broader legal context where the courts have often intervened in disputes over federal funding and state compliance with federal directives, particularly in the realm of immigration policy. The judge's emphasis on the potential harm to state transportation projects highlights the practical implications of such federal policies on local governance and infrastructure (Fox News).

Conclusion

The claim that a federal judge blocked Trump from withholding billions in transportation funds over immigration compliance is True. The ruling by Judge McConnell effectively prevents the Trump administration from enforcing conditions that tie federal transportation funding to state cooperation with immigration enforcement. This decision underscores the judiciary's role in checking executive power and ensuring that federal funding is used in accordance with its intended purposes.

Fact Check: Federal judge blocks Trump from withholding billions in transportation funds over immigration compliance.