A federal judge has temporarily halted the administration’s plan to put thousands of USAID employees on leave. His decision sparks a looming legal battle over the future of American foreign aid.
Key Facts:
- U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by former President Trump, issued a temporary restraining order on Friday.
- The plan would have placed 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave by midnight.
- Judge Nichols said there is “zero harm to the government to pausing this for some short period of time.”
- President Trump declared on Truth Social, “CLOSE IT DOWN!,” alleging corruption at the agency.
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The Rest of The Story:
USAID was established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy. It had more than 10,000 employees and managed a budget of roughly $40 billion.
Recent steps by President Trump and Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, have aimed to significantly reduce USAID’s staffing and possibly move key programs under the State Department.
An official stated that the agency had “ceased to exist,” with most employees either on leave or scheduled to be placed on leave.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who now oversees these operations, stressed that critical aid efforts are still active.
Many Democrats insist that closing the agency would require approval from Congress.
Commentary:
The judge’s order makes it clear that the block will last only a short time.
For some time, the agency directed large amounts of money toward policies that critics argue do more to promote certain agendas than to serve core American interests abroad.
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Senator John Kennedy on Elon Musk and DOGE exposing USAID, “I'll tell you what Mr. Musk discovered. I find it fascinating. He discovered:
– The American taxpayers are giving money to Afghanistan
– He found that we are giving money to Yemen
– He… pic.twitter.com/605uTwKbTV— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 7, 2025
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It is understandable that the White House wants to review spending and ensure it aligns with national security goals.
On the other side, Democrats maintain that the President cannot close USAID without Congress. They believe this step oversteps executive power and sets a troubling precedent.
Still, USAID is housed under the State Department, where Secretary of State Rubio has direct authority.
What happens when the restraining order expires remains to be seen, and the final outcome rests largely on further court decisions.
The Bottom Line:
A Trump-appointed judge granted a brief pause to a sweeping plan to shutter most of USAID’s functions.
The future of American foreign aid now hinges on what the courts and the administration decide next.
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