Trump’s federal funding freeze has put vital community projects at risk

Washington, DC – Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, National Council of Nonprofits, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, Childhood Lead Action Project, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, and Green Infrastructure Center have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction asking the court to immediately lift the Trump administration’s unlawful freeze on billions in congressionally approved funds under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Congress passed these laws to support infrastructure improvements, climate initiatives, and public health protections.

President Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” executive order directed federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, the Interior, and Housing and Urban Development, to halt the distribution of these funds.

This motion was filed as part of the lawsuit brought on March 13, 2025, by Democracy Forward and co-counsel DeLuca, Weizenbaum, Barry & Revens, challenging the administration’s unlawful suspension of funding, arguing that the freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act, disrupting vital community-led projects, putting jobs, public health initiatives, and climate resilience efforts in jeopardy.

“The Trump administration’s funding freeze of congressionally approved funds is a flagrant abuse of power—one that is already harming communities across the country. In blocking these critical investments, this administration is making a deliberate choice to undermine public health, environmental protection, and economic stability, said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “We are fighting in court to ensure that this administration is held accountable and that these resources are released for the people and projects that need them. The American people deserve a government that follows the law—not one that bends it to fit a political agenda.”

“It’s a basic rule in our system of government – the law is made by Congress, not the Executive. That’s why people in Rhode Island and all over the country counted on the laws that Congress passed, counted on them to fund clean water for children and parks that are for everyone. This administration has ignored those laws and frozen critical funding. So we will be in court, to enforce the laws we all counted on when they were enacted by the Congress we elected,” said Miriam Weizenbaum, Weizenbaum, Barry & Revens.

If granted, the preliminary injunction will require the administration to immediately release the frozen funds, allowing critical community projects to resume without further delay. 

The lawsuit can be found here, the amended complaint can be found here, and the preliminary injunction motion can be found here.

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