Shortly after he took the oath of office, President Donald Trump imposed a blanket freeze on federal grants pending a review.

Although a group of states were quick to challenge the move, Trump maintains that a recent Supreme Court victory has vindicated it. 

Supreme Court upheld freezing of DEI teacher training grants

Newsweek noted how the Trump administration is facing a lawsuit that was filed by 22 Democrat-led states along with the District of Columbia over the grant pause.

The plaintiff's were able to obtain temporary restraining orders against the White House from two federal district court judges in February.

The president has put a freeze on all federal grants while his administration carries out a major review. https://t.co/XBYItJiLpH

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 7, 2025

However, the magazine pointed out in an article published on Monday that the administration's attorney's are citing a decision handed down by the Supreme Court last week in a separate case.

In that ruling, America's highest judicial body found Trump could freeze millions of dollars which had been allocated by the Department of Education for DEI-related teacher training efforts while the matter is being litigated.

Plaintiffs: Supreme Court decision "looks nothing like the current case"

Newsweek reported that decision was cited by administration lawyers in a Rhode Island courtroom on April 5, maintaining that it "plainly vindicates the government's position in this case."

However, the plaintiffs responded in a motion two days later which alleged that the White House's "motion fails for multiple reasons and should be denied."

Specifically, they argued that the Supreme Court's earlier finding should be ignored as it "looks nothing like the current case."

"Although Plaintiff States here challenge defendants' refusal to disburse federal funds, they do not challenge defendants' decision to terminate any particular grant awards," the filing read.

New York AG says she "will not stand for any illegal policy"

Among those leading the fight against the Trump administration's freeze on federal grants is New York Attorney General Letitia James.

"We will not stand for any illegal policy that puts essential services for millions of Americans at risk," Newsweek quoted her as saying at a press conference on January 28.

The Democratic state attorney general went on to pledge that she and co-plaintiffs would "seek a court order to immediately stop the enforcement."

James has long had a contentious relationship with the president and won a controversial $454 million civil fraud judgment against him last year.