A US district judge issued the injunction on Monday, saying the doctors who challenged the policy would likely succeed because US law blocked all federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
"We're exploring all possible avenues to make sure that we can do this critical life-saving research," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton told a briefing in Massachusetts, where President Barack Obama is on vacation.
"The president said very plainly when he laid out his stem cell policy that this is important, potentially life-saving research that could have an impact on millions of Americans and people all around the world. He thinks that we need to do research. He put forward stringent ethical guidelines and he thinks that his policy is the right one," Burton said.
The Obama administration could appeal the judge's decision or try to rewrite the guidelines to comply with US law.