Judges Issue Rulings on Trump Funding Orders

A federal judge in California, Jon Tigar, has issued a preliminary nationwide injunction blocking the Trump administration from enforcing executive orders that would cut federal funding to organizations promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or recognizing transgender individuals, citing likely constitutional violations. The injunction protects LGBTQ+ nonprofits, health centers, and advocacy groups, allowing them to continue receiving federal grants as the legal case proceeds, with the government expected to appeal. Separately, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled President Trump acted within his legal authority when firing the board of the U.S. African Development Foundation, potentially enabling further funding cuts to that agency. These rulings underscore ongoing legal battles over the limits of executive power and federal funding conditions related to civil rights and minority protections under the Trump administration. Plaintiffs in the California case argued that the executive orders would undermine their missions and endanger vital services. The judge emphasized that federal funds cannot be used to suppress protected viewpoints or communities.