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On Wednesday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts issued a temporary halt to a federal judge’s mandate obligating the Trump administration to disburse approximately $2 billion in foreign aid to contractors before midnight.
This decision follows the Trump administration’s urgent request for intervention from the Supreme Court to delay the release of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as stipulated by a federal judge. Administration officials indicated they would be unable to meet the imposed deadline.
The administration criticized U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali’s ruling, asserting that it has created a predicament concerning payments that conflict with the President’s responsibilities as outlined in Article II, specifically regarding the management of federal finances and decisions on foreign aid. They deemed this situation as one causing “clear forms of irreparable harm.”
Responses from the challenging parties are expected by Friday at noon, suggesting that the pause could be short-lived.
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Flags representing both the United States and USAID are displayed outside their headquarters in Washington, D.C., on February 1, 2025. (REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon)
The Trump administration has announced plans to cut over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts along with a reduction of around $60 billion in total U.S. assistance globally. This move outlines their strategy to significantly diminish U.S. contributions to development and humanitarian efforts abroad.
These reductions, as articulated by the administration, would leave few USAID initiatives intact for advocates to defend amidst ongoing legal disputes with the administration.
On February 7, 2025, flowers and signs appeared outside the USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
This recent announcement reflects the magnitude of the administration’s withdrawal from international aid and development support, reversing decades of policy that viewed foreign assistance as beneficial for American interests by promoting stability and fostering alliances in other countries.
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A memo from the administration described their efforts as a means of “clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift.” The memo also indicated upcoming changes to how USAID and the State Department will manage foreign aid, aiming to ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively to advance U.S. interests.
In a notable interaction, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were seen together during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Both President Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk have vigorously targeted foreign aid in their broader initiative to downsize the federal government. They argue that USAID projects promote a liberal agenda and serve as inefficient use of taxpayer funds.
The administration has previously sought emergency intervention from the Supreme Court in another case, contending that a lower court’s decision to reinstate a federal watchdog agency’s head after Trump’s dismissal was erroneous.
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