Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced on Tuesday that he would join a multistate lawsuit against President Donald Trump in response to the federal funding freeze. “The President’s withholding of federal funding is unconstitutional and demands legal action,” Frey said in a statement. “This overreach by the President to unlawfully withhold congressionally-directed funding cannot, and will not, go unchallenged.”
The White House budget office had ordered a pause on federal grants and loans. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified in a press briefing that Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, and welfare benefits would not be affected. “It is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Leavitt said.
Despite this clarification, a federal judge temporarily blocked the funding freeze shortly after it went into effect on Tuesday evening.
Maine’s congressional delegation has also criticized the freeze. Independent U.S. Senator Angus King called the move “blatantly unconstitutional,” while Democratic U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree said she was “outraged,” describing the president’s actions as “flagrantly illegal.” “I will not stand by as this Administration continues to blatantly break the law and systematically dismantle the government and the civil service,” Pingree said in a statement.
King spoke at a press conference on Capitol Hill, expressing his shock at the order. “I thought first it was a production of the Onion, because it’s so grossly, blatantly unconstitutional and threatening to the foundation of the separation of powers under the Constitution,” he said.
Maine Governor Janet Mills also released a statement condemning the move, expressing deep concern about the potential impact on Maine’s people and businesses. “My Administration is evaluating the effects of this order, including its impacts, but it is already clear to me that it is causing entirely needless chaos and confusion across Maine and the nation that it will turn into real and serious harm if it continues,” Mills said.
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