On Monday, April 14, a judge allowed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to proceed with clawing back 78 fair housing grants awarded to fair housing organizations in 33 states. The grants, which are authorized by statute, support fair housing education and enforcement efforts in local communities.

Judge Richard Stearns of the U.S. District Court in the District of Massachusetts dissolved a temporary restraining order he had earlier granted directing HUD to reinstate canceled grants in a case brought by fair housing groups.

Stearns cited the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow the administration to go forward in terminating billions of dollars in education grants while litigation in that case proceeds. The Supreme Court directed that the proper forum for such cases is the Court of Federal Claims.