A federal judge in Rhode Island is stepping up to halt a controversial move by the Trump administration. On Wednesday, Judge James McConnell Jr. signaled he’d issue a temporary order to block executive actions aimed at cutting funding to federal programs that don’t align with the president’s views.

The judge’s decision came after lawyers representing 22 states and Washington, D.C. argued that Trump’s defunding efforts were causing real harm. States reported being locked out of systems that handle Medicaid reimbursements and other critical services. New Mexico officials even warned they’d run out of cash within five months if the freeze continued.

“I’m worried about the effect on the people these states represent,” Judge McConnell said during the hearing, highlighting the widespread concern over the funding disruptions.

The Trump administration had already backed off slightly by rescinding a memo from the White House budget office that ordered a freeze on up to $3 trillion in federal funds. That memo had been temporarily blocked by another judge earlier in the week.

But Judge McConnell wasn’t convinced the issue was resolved. He asked the states to draft a new restraining order and said he’d sign it after giving the Justice Department 24 hours to respond.

Justice Department lawyer Daniel Schwei argued the restraining order wasn’t necessary since the memo was no longer in effect. However, the judge pointed out that seven other executive orders restricting federal spending based on Trump’s priorities are still in place.

The states’ lawsuit claims these actions violate federal law and the Constitution. “It’s freeze first, ask questions later,” said Sarah Rice, a lawyer from Rhode Island’s attorney general’s office.

With billions at stake and states already feeling the pinch, this legal battle is far from over. Stay tuned for updates as the fight over federal funding continues.