Funding Freeze

This page catalogs executive orders, federal agency directives, litigation updates and other guidance and information pertaining to the freeze of funds for research grants.

Purdue Post Award will continue to monitor award and payment activity on a case-by-case basis and review status with Principal Investigators as needed.

Latest News

• TRO still in place; Preliminary Injunction motion under advisement. Purdue Post Award will continue to monitor award and payment activity on a case-by-case basis and review status with Principal Investigators as needed.

Litigation Summary

National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump

• February 3 2025, Complaint alleging freeze violates spending clause, is void for vagueness (e.g., does not define key terms such as DEI, DEIA), and violates First Amendment.
• February 21, 2025, Court Order and supporting Memorandum granting in part and denying in part plaintiff’s motion by granting a preliminary injunction that holds under January 20, 2025, EO Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Program and Preferencing Sec. 2(b)(i) (“Termination Provision”), January 21, 2025, EO Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Sec. 3(b)(iv) (“Certification Provision”) and Sec. 4(b)(iii) Enforcement provision, government cannot:
  • pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards, contracts or obligations (“Current Obligations”), or change the terms of any Current Obligation, on the basis of the Termination Provision;
  • require any grantee or contractor to make any “certification” or other representation pursuant to the Certification Provision; or
  • bring any False Claims Act enforcement action, or other enforcement action, pursuant to the Enforcement Threat Provision, including but not limited to any False Claims Act enforcement action premised on any certification made pursuant to the Certification Provision.

State of New York v. Trump

• January 28, 2025,  Complaint alleging that freeze violates APA and separation of powers. 
• February 10, 2025, Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
• February 10, 2025, Government Appeal of TRO to First Circuit Court of Appeals
• February 11, 2025, Denial of Appeal from First Circuit Court of Appeals
• February 14, 2025, Court Order finding government did not follow original TRO and ordering immediate restoration of frozen funding and end of funding pause while TRO is pending.
• Preliminary injunction hearing held on February 21, 2025.  Court decision pending.

National Council of Nonprofits v. Office of Management and Budget

• January 28, 2025, Complaint alleging freeze violates APA and is contrary to the First Amendment.
• February 3, 2025, Temporary Restraining Order. 
• February 25, 2025, Order granting a Preliminary Injunction and accompanying Memorandum Opinion.  “Government is enjoined from giving effect to, or reinstating under a difference name, the unilateral, non-individualized directives in OMB Memorandum M-25-13 with respect to disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards.” Also requires Government to give notice of this preliminary injunction to agencies and instruct them to continue releasing disbursement on open awards.