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It argues that Trump’s order is “devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale” and will have ripple effects throughout the entire United States and beyond.
This is separate from an action by a coalition of Democratic states who filed a lawsuit later on Tuesday to block the order, calling it unconstitutional.
Stephen Miller, the White House’s deputy chief of staff, also defended the directive before the judge’s decision was announced, telling reporters that this would allow the government to get “credit control”.
“It does not impact any federal programmes that Americans rely on,” he said, answering a question about whether “Meals on Wheels” food delivery programme would be affected.
On Tuesday, several states reported issues accessing funds through Medicaid, a government health insurance programme for low-income people. The White House later said the programme would not be affected and that the problem would be resolved soon.
It also said Social Security benefits would not be affected, nor would any programme “that provides direct benefits to individuals”, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps.
In a letter to the White House, top Democrats expressed “extreme alarm” about the plan to pause funding.
“The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country,” wrote Washington Senator Patty Murray and Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
Democratic minority leader of the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, said the move would cause missed payrolls and rent payments, and cause “chaos”.
