A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), marking a significant legal setback for President Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, sided with two federal employee associations, preventing the administration from placing 2,200 agency staffers on paid leave. However, the judge clarified that the ruling is not a final decision on whether the administration has the authority to dismantle USAID.
Trump and Musk’s Plan to Close USAID
Trump and Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, have made USAID their primary target, cutting almost all of its funding, locking out employees, and even removing its name from headquarters. Democratic lawmakers and agency officials have strongly opposed these actions, arguing that Congress must approve any such closure.
Impact on Global Aid
Despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claims that critical aid programs continue, USAID officials reported that:
- $450 million in U.S.-grown food aid for 36 million people is halted
- Water supplies for 1.6 million displaced Sudanese are at risk due to fuel shortages
Legal Battles Continue
The Trump administration faces multiple legal challenges, including its attempt to offer financial incentives for federal employees to resign and end birthright citizenship, both of which have been temporarily blocked.
Meanwhile, USAID employees fear further layoffs, as the administration pushes to shift a limited number of aid programs under the State Department. A hearing on federal employee resignations is set for Monday.
— AP —
