A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot cancel existing federal grants solely because they do not match new government priorities. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, blocks grant terminations tied to shifts in agency goals and reinforces constitutional and regulatory limits on spending. The ruling came in litigation led by a coalition of 21 attorneys general and three governors, which argued the administration had “gutted” funding, including for research. The coalition said it held $5.4 billion in existing grants that it feared could be at risk under the administration’s approach. For higher education institutions with large portfolios of federal research and education funding, the decision provides clearer protections for ongoing awards even as the administration continues to terminate other grants. It could reduce near-term uncertainty for colleges dependent on current federal commitments.