Key facts
- A federal judge blocked the USDA from withholding billions in federal funds from states.
- The funds were to be withheld based on compliance with certain Trump administration policies.
- U.S. District Judge Myong Joun granted the preliminary injunction.
- The injunction was sought by Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia.
A federal judge has blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from withholding billions of dollars in federal funds from states. The USDA's attempt to link these funds to compliance with specific Trump administration policies has been halted by a preliminary injunction. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun granted the injunction, which was sought by Democratic attorneys general representing 20 states and the District of Columbia. This ruling prevents the USDA from using compliance with certain past administration policies as a condition for distributing federal funds.