The restraining order, along with a similar directive by another judge from Friday, amounted to a rebuke of the move as an overreach that likely lacked legitimate authority.

Earlier this week, a federal judge in Washington issued a separate temporary restraining order against OMB’s instructions, minutes before the funding freeze had been set to take effect. The order, which is set to expire Monday, prompted the White House to walk back OMB’s memo, and DOJ has since asked the court to dismiss the case.

A federal judge on Thursday said he stood ready to enforce an order he issued blocking U.S. President Donald Trump's administration from freezing federal grants, loans and other financial assistance after Democratic-led states said billions of dollars in funding was still being tied up.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell said the Office of Management and Budget's about-face on pausing federal payments and contracts was in "name only."

Rhode Island’s chief federal judge on Thursday extended a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration’s push to freeze federal assistance for at least another 14 days as the case continues to progress through court.

Gender-based violence organizations have begun to self-edit their public-facing media out of fear they will lose federal grants essential to the provision of life-saving services.

Courts have blocked the order, but some nonprofits have still had to furlough workers and put projects on hold.