A federal judge in Rhode Island temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle three small federal agencies, in response to a lawsuit brought by 21 Democrat-led states.
In March, Trump issued an executive order to eliminate the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” Four other smaller agencies were also targeted under the order, but the judge did not issue a ruling on those.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr., in a Tuesday order, issued a temporary injunction against the dismantling of the three agencies, saying it violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The order, the judge wrote, also violated the Constitution’s separation of powers clause and argued that Congress appropriated the funds for those federal entities that Trump is seeking to shut down....
