A federal judge on Wednesday clarified that the executive branch under President Donald Trump retains some authority to pause federal spending as long as it complies with existing statutes and regulations, a decision affirming Trump’s efforts to withhold funding for temporary migrant housing in New York.

In a four-page order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell reaffirmed a previous temporary restraining order placed against the administration’s broader funding freeze but clarified the government is still permitted to limit access to federal funds in accordance with applicable laws.