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Comment by cjrp | Hacker News Reader

> Given the spending that is now on hold was apportioned by Congress, it is likely this will face legal challenges about the scope of presidential power.

So, how quickly will this be overturned?

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Have you met the current congress? They have to care first.

Is it up to congress though? Not the Supreme Court?

Someone with standing needs to sue, which is then moved through the court system. We would need a US v Trump.

That, or they impeach, which is utterly laughable.

Anyone who's supposed to receive that money has standing and a federal judge can quickly rule that the status quo must remain while the case proceeds. The Trump administration can appeal that ruling but I think it would make it's way through the available steps relatively quickly.

The next steps are probably to cut funding anyway. I have a gut feeling that this is part of a larger power play that demonstrates that (this specific) President has no limitations on his power.

It would be, but they are a rubber stamp for Trump now. Now only judges can stop the madness. Hopefully SCOTUS will actually do their job and make sure that Trump sticks to the law, which does not allow him to just defund programs set up by Congressional vote. Otherwise we wouldn't need a Congress. He's pushing at the walls to see how much he can tear down.

This assumes that they are the only party with standing to sue, which is not likely the case. (Previous rulings on the lack of the authority of the executive to withhold appropriated funds have come in suits by intended recipients.) Both private parties (nonprofits and businesses) [1] and a group of 23 states [2] have already filed suit over the order.

[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/non-profits-health-groups-sue-...

[2] https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bont...

EDIT:

And it has been blocked, for now: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pause-federal-grants...

Supreme court is in Trump's pocket. You can bet it will be appealed, all the way up, with some new legal theory invented to say that Trump can do whatever he wants.

How quickly did any of the Trump trials conclude?

They concluded pretty quickly once he won the election.

Yooouch

The cases don't have to conclude to get a binding interim order (preliminary injunction) blocking the action.

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