Trump White House Calls Court’s Funding Freeze Ruling a 'Weaponization of Justice' After Federal Court Rejects Appeal

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court order requiring the immediate restoration of frozen federal funds. A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the administration failed to cite legal authority for the stay or demonstrate specific harm. The Justice Department sought to delay U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s ruling, which blocked the funding freeze. The court instructed both sides to submit arguments by Thursday, with a decision expected by Friday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the injunctions “a weaponization of justice.”