In a ruling issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell, an Obama appointee, sided with nearly two dozen Democratic-led states that had sued to stop the closures. At the center of the dispute are the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service — agencies critical to local libraries, minority-owned businesses, and labor dispute resolution.

Judge McConnell emphasized that the Trump administration’s attempt to shutter these agencies violated the core principles of the separation of powers. In his ruling, he wrote, “It disregards the fundamental constitutional role of each of the branches of our federal government; specifically, it ignores the unshakable principles that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated.”

The Trump administration had argued that the states had no standing to bring the case, but Judge McConnell firmly rejected that, pointing to, quote, “compelling evidence” that the states were already facing harm from agency staff reductions and the loss of essential programs.

This isn’t the first time McConnell has ruled against the Trump administration. Earlier this year, he blocked a nationwide freeze on federal grants, siding with 22 states and the District of Columbia. In that January decision, McConnell ordered the administration to “immediately restore frozen funding,” warning that the sweeping freeze was likely unconstitutional and causing irreparable harm across the country.

Tonight’s ruling delivers another sharp rebuke to the administration’s attempts to bypass Congress in reshaping the federal government.

We will continue to track reactions from Washington and bring you updates on what this decision means for communities nationwide.

Reporting by Kate Moore.