A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's administration from freezing federal loans, grants and other financial assistance to 22 states, barring the Republican for now from implementing a policy that had stoked confusion and fears about critical government-funded services being disrupted.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island came at the behest of Democratic attorneys generals from 22 states and the District of Columbia and despite the White House saying it was rescinding Monday's memo from its budget office detailing the policy.

The temporary restraining order will be in place until further order of the court while the judge considers whether to issue a longer preliminary injunction.

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