In a significant blow to the Trump administration's funding policies, Attorney General Kwame Raoul has obtained two separate preliminary injunctions, halting the administration's attempt to freeze federal funding to states and slashing funding for vital medical and public health research. As reported by the Illinois Attorney General's office, a U.S. District Court in Rhode Island has recently issued a preliminary injunction in response to a coalition lawsuit led by Raoul, questioning the legality of the administration's sweeping funding freeze across various essential federal agency grants, loans, and financial assistance programs.

The court's decision, highlighted by Raoul's argument, indicates a high likelihood of success by the states affirming that the Trump administration's policy to withhold funding was unlawful. The frozen funds, critical to a spectrum of state functions ranging from child care and emergency management to workforce development, prompted immediate legal action from Attorney General Raoul and the coalition on January 28. A temporary restraining order was swiftly granted on January 31, upending the funding freeze until further judicial review. On February 8, a subsequent enforcement motion was ordered, mandating immediate compliance with the TRO and the cessation of the federal funds freeze.

Simultaneously, in Massachusetts, another U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from cutting off billions intended for the medical and public health research conducted by universities and research institutions. These funds, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), underpin numerous groundbreaking scientific studies, from cancer therapies to DNA sequencing. Raoul underscored the importance of such funding, stating , "Illinois universities depend on National Institutes of Health grants to develop new medical treatments that save lives."

In detailing the wide-ranging implications of these policies, Raoul made it clear that the halted funding jeopardized programs providing essential health and childcare services, aiding in public school support, combating hate crimes, and enhancing disaster relief efforts. One program at risk is the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which relies on Department of Justice grant funding for its critical role in investigating child exploitation crimes. As Raoul further emphasized , "My office relies on federal funds to protect children from online predators through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force."

Alongside Illinois, a coalition of attorneys general from 23 states joined Raoul in challenging the funding freeze's legality and advocating for the preservation of federal funding that is pivotal to state-level services and research. The bipartisan group included representatives from states as varied as California, New York, and North Carolina, highlighting the widespread concern across the country. With these latest court decisions, the injunctions will remain effective until a final ruling is made, ensuring that, for now, programs and services dependent on federal assistance can continue their work unabated.