Fact Check: Judge Blocks Trump's Order Threatening Billions in Transportation Funding
What We Know
On June 19, 2025, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration could not withhold billions of dollars in transportation funding from states that refused to comply with certain immigration enforcement actions. This ruling came after a coalition of twenty states, primarily led by Democratic attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the administration, claiming that the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had threatened to cut off funding as a means to enforce immigration policies (AP News, Reuters).
U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. issued a preliminary injunction, stating that the states were likely to succeed in their claims that the Trump administration's actions violated the Constitution and federal statutes. He noted that the states faced potential irreparable harm, including the loss of billions in federal funding and the risk of damaging relationships between local law enforcement and immigrant communities (New York Times, NPR).
Analysis
The ruling by Judge McConnell is significant as it underscores the legal boundaries of federal authority over state governance, particularly regarding funding conditions. The judge's decision was based on the premise that the Trump administration's directive imposed unconstitutional conditions on the states, effectively coercing them into compliance with federal immigration laws (NBC News).
Critics of the Trump administration, including state attorneys general, argued that using federal funds as leverage to enforce immigration policies was not only unethical but also illegal. California Attorney General Rob Bonta described the administration's actions as treating essential funding as a "bargaining chip" (AP News).
On the other hand, the administration's representatives, including Secretary Duffy, contended that the federal government has the right to set conditions for the distribution of federal funds. They argued that requiring states to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement was a reasonable exercise of discretion granted by Congress (Reuters).
The sources reporting on this ruling are credible and include established news organizations such as the Associated Press, Reuters, and NPR, which are known for their journalistic integrity and adherence to fact-checking standards.
Conclusion
The claim that a judge blocked Trump's order threatening billions in transportation funding is True. The ruling by Judge McConnell effectively prevents the Trump administration from using federal transportation funds as leverage to enforce immigration policies, affirming the legal rights of states to manage their own law enforcement without federal coercion.
Sources
- Judge rules Trump administration can't require states to help on ...
- US judge blocks Trump plan to tie states' transportation ...
- Judge Blocks Trump's Tying of Transportation Funds to Immigration ...
- Judge rules federal grants can't be tied to immigration ...
- Judge blocks Trump plan to tie states' transportation funds to ...
- Federal judge blocks Trump admin from withholding transportation funds
