Judge denies U.S. bishops’ request to block Trump funding freeze

CNA Staff, Feb 21, 2025 / 13:40 pm

A federal judge has denied a request from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to block a federal funding freeze that the bishops say will greatly harm refugee aid efforts in the United States. 

The USCCB sued the Trump administration earlier this week over what the bishops said was an unlawful suspension of funding for refugee resettlement and aid programs. The suspension came via one of several executive orders President Donald Trump issued shortly after taking office. 

The results of the suspension have been “devastating,” the bishops said, with the prelates reporting “millions of dollars in pending, unpaid reimbursements for services already rendered to refugees” along with “millions more each week.”

In their suit the bishops had asked for a temporary restraining order against the White House. In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden denied that request.

McFadden in the decision said restraining orders are “an extraordinary remedy.” Courts only grant them, he said, when plaintiffs show “likely success on the merits, likely irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, a balance of the equities in its favor, and accord with the public interest.”

“The court finds that plaintiff has not made the requisite showing and will thus deny plaintiff’s motion to the extent that it requests a temporary restraining order,” McFadden ruled.  

The bishops had requested a “preliminary injunction” in addition to the restraining order. In his ruling McFadden said the court would set “an expedited schedule for additional briefing” to consider the injunction request, though the order did not say when the next briefing would occur. 

The U.S. bishops have been warning for several weeks on the potential fallout surrounding the Trump funding freeze, which has impacted numerous programs both domestically and internationally. 

In January they asked Catholics to reach out to their members of Congress and request the resumption of foreign aid funding following the White House’s freeze. 

The pause “will be detrimental to millions of our sisters and brothers who need access to lifesaving humanitarian, health, and development assistance,” the bishops said at the time.

Earlier this week, following the filing of the lawsuit, USCCB spokeswoman Chieko Noguchi said the bishops have for years partnered with the U.S. government and “helped nearly a million individuals find safety and build their lives in the United States.”

“We are urging the government to uphold its legal and moral obligations to refugees and to restore the necessary funding to ensure that faith-based and community organizations can continue this vital work that reflects our nation’s values of compassion, justice, and hospitality,” she said.