"Let's be clear, January 20th was an inauguration, not a coronation. Congress is given the power to appropriate the funding. The executive branch cannot unilaterally disregard those appropriations," Raoul said.

Illinois lawmakers are happy a federal judge halted President Trump's federal funding freeze Tuesday, but they aren't relying on the temporary injunction. Why it matters: State lawmakers are worried that the freeze could have lasting damage to residents who rely on Medicaid and other public services.

Illinois Attorney General Raoul discusses how the Trump administration is impacting Illinois, including on immigration and a federal funding freeze.

The freeze on federal funding and grants has wide-ranging implications and impacts everything from funding for child care, university research and roads and bridges.

A federal judge temporarily halted President Donald Trump's move to freeze all federal grants pending an analysis to root out "wokeness" in federal spending. But confusion reigned Tuesday in Chicago and beyond as leaders braced for serious potential cuts to an array of major programs.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday said the Trump administration's move to freeze funding for federal assistance programs is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers between the White House and Congress.