US judge orders Trump administration to obey halt on spending freeze

Critics have argued that federal spending falls under the powers of Congress, not the president [File: Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo]

A United States federal judge has ruled that the administration of President Donald Trump did not fully comply with his order halting a federal spending freeze that has thrown the government into chaos.

On Monday, US District Judge John McConnell called for all funding to be restored, as courts consider whether the spending freeze is constitutional.