Judge Amir Ali of the U.S. District Court in Washington issued the ruling on Thursday in response to a lawsuit brought by two health organizations that receive U.S. funding for global programs.
The order applies to existing contracts before Trump's January 20 executive order, which halted nearly all foreign aid spending as part of a broader effort to reassess U.S. funding priorities.
In his decision, Judge Ali criticized the administration's blanket suspension of congressionally appropriated aid, stating that officials failed to justify why an across-the-board freeze was necessary for reviewing individual programs.
The ruling temporarily unblocks funding that had been stalled, restoring critical assistance to humanitarian and development projects worldwide.
The freeze had triggered widespread disruptions, forcing USAID and State Department contractors to halt humanitarian aid, lay off staff, and suspend services in vulnerable regions.
The administration had argued the suspension was needed to conduct a thorough review of aid programs and eliminate wasteful spending. However, the court found no evidence that such a broad suspension was a rational or necessary step in that review.
Separately, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ruled on Thursday that a previous order preventing the Trump administration from pulling thousands of USAID staffers from their posts worldwide would remain in place for at least another week.
Nichols' ruling follows reports that the funding freeze and USAID staff reductions left employees stranded, particularly in high-risk areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where political unrest recently escalated.
Judge Nichols, a Trump appointee, closely questioned administration lawyers about their plans to ensure the safety of displaced USAID employees. When pressed, a Justice Department attorney was unable to provide a clear strategy, prompting Nichols to request further documentation.
The administration's actions have faced significant opposition from federal employee unions, Democratic lawmakers, and humanitarian organizations, all of whom argue that Trump lacks the unilateral authority to freeze foreign aid or dismantle USAID operations without congressional approval.
The Department of Government Efficiency, a new agency led by Elon Musk and tasked with reducing federal spending, has been central to the recent cost-cutting efforts, though critics claim its real aim is to undermine USAID's mission.
Judge Ali's ruling represents a legal setback for the administration, which had insisted that Trump's executive authority over foreign affairs allowed him to halt aid disbursements.
Ali found that the freeze was likely causing irreparable harm to aid organizations, citing reports of mass layoffs, shuttered refugee protection programs, and disrupted global supply chains.
Despite the ruling, the court did not fully block Trump's executive order. While aid funding will resume, the administration is still permitted to conduct its internal review of foreign aid programs. The White House must now submit a status report by Tuesday outlining compliance with the court's order.
The legal battle over USAID and foreign assistance is expected to continue as aid groups and federal employee unions push for further protections against what they view as an overreach by the administration.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/judge-orders-trump-to-lift-foreign-aid-funding-freeze
