"Time to make sense of the chaos": Federal court halts Trump's order to cut aid.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the cessation of funding for international programs, notably halting applications for the U4U program that assists Ukrainian refugees. Payments for USAID programs have also been suspended. However, a federal court has blocked the freezing of grants. This was reported on January 28 by The New York Times.

Federal Judge Lauren Alihan of the District of Columbia temporarily halted Trump's order that freezes federal grants and loans amounting to over $3 trillion. A final decision will be made on February 3. Activists filed the lawsuit, claiming that the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act were violated.

"We are grateful for this administrative stay, which will give our clients time to navigate the chaos created by the hasty and ill-considered actions of the Trump administration," said Democracy Forward.

This ruling marks the second instance where a federal judge intervened to halt Trump's expanded powers for legal challenges. Previously, Judge John C. Coughenour from the Western District of Washington temporarily blocked the president's attempt to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S.

The order to freeze funding mandates a "temporary suspension of all actions related to the obligations or payments of all federal financial assistance." The directive is so vague that it has caused disruptions in government agencies, city authorities, and nonprofit organizations.

The loss of access to federal funds for programs has created chaos in the U.S. Officials have complained that funding for preschools, community health centers, assistance for low-income families, housing, and disaster relief is at risk.

The White House refuted claims about the extent of the order, clarifying that the funding freeze "does not apply across the board." Washington explained that the changes only affect programs related to presidential executive orders and funding for NGOs that "undermine national interests."

Additionally, attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit against Trump. They noted that the funding freeze order violates the Constitution and federal law.

It has been noted that judges are seeking to freeze the decision while the administration reviews whether the expenditures align with U.S. priorities.

It should be noted that the United for Ukraine (U4U) program, which allowed Ukrainians to legally reside in the country, has been suspended in the U.S. Over 118,000 citizens arrived in America through this program in just about a year of full-scale war.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk stated that due to the cessation of USAID funding, Kyiv plans to organize consultations with American partners in the near future. The freeze on assistance for Ukrainians was described by the official as unexpected and unwelcome news.