WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday blocked a sweeping executive order from President Donald Trump that sought to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

A federal judge will on Friday consider a request to further block President Donald Trump ’s administration from freezing trillions of dollars of grants and loans that fund everything from clean energy programs to bridge repairs to emergency shelters.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts in the Oval Office of the White House, on the day Howard Lutnick is sworn in as U.S. Commerce Secretary by Vice President JD Vance, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

A federal judge paved the way for the Trump administration to move forward with plans to remove thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development workers from their jobs.

The plaintiffs argued that the president’s edicts against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives exceeded his authority and violate their constitutional right to due process.

US District Judge Carl Nichols lifted a temporary block, permitting the administration to significantly downsize USAID staff.

After hearing arguments Friday, Judge John McConnell Jr. said he will rule within a week on whether to further require the Trump administration to keep federal funding flowing.

A federal judge has refused to immediately block the Trump administration’s abrupt halt to funding of the nation’s largest private refugee resettlement program

In a seven-page order, U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali seemed troubled by complaints from aid groups that much of the funding remained on hold despite his Feb. 13 order suspend