The judge stated that the administration had failed to adhere to previous orders requiring the release of frozen funds.
A federal judge has ordered the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to disburse foreign aid funds to contractors and grant recipients by the end of Wednesday.
This order marks the third time that Judge Amir Ali, presiding over the case, has ruled that officials must release funds that were frozen after Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid.
In Tuesday’s ruling, Judge Ali noted that there is no indication the administration has taken any steps to comply with his earlier orders.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit—which include nonprofits and businesses with government contracts—have argued that they may be forced to shut down their organizations if the agreed-upon funds are not paid.
They also allege that the administration has violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution by refusing to disburse the funds, which were allocated by Congress.
The complaint further highlights that the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) may violate the constitutional separation of powers, as Congress established the independent agency in 1961.
The court order applies to payments for work completed before February 13, when the judge issued the earlier temporary restraining order.
On Sunday, USAID announced that all of its staff, except for certain essential workers, would be placed on paid administrative leave starting that day. Additionally, 1,600 positions were eliminated.
“Individuals affected will receive specific notifications on February 23, 2025, with further instructions and information about their benefits and rights,” a notice from the Trump administration stated the following day.
Led by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump administration has moved to effectively dismantle the agency.
Musk—who has labeled USAID a “criminal organization” and a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America”—has claimed the agency is rife with waste and fraud and pursues an ideological agenda.
Former USAID officials and humanitarian workers have condemned Trump’s actions, warning that the demise of the aid agency will harm millions of vulnerable people worldwide and weaken U.S. soft power.
“Eliminating the U.S.’s unique response capacity of crisis experts who help contain disease outbreaks and stabilize displaced populations is a shortsighted, high-risk, and frankly, stupid act,” wrote Marcia Wong, a former deputy assistant administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, on the social media platform X.
Last week, a judge also cleared the way for the Trump administration to proceed with its plans to recall thousands of USAID staffers from overseas within 30 days.
“For overseas personnel, USAID intends to implement a voluntary, agency-funded return travel program and other benefits,” USAID’s website stated in its notice.
“USAID is committed to keeping its overseas personnel safe. Until they return home, personnel will retain access to agency systems and to diplomatic and other resources. In the coming week, we will provide details on how to retrieve personal items from former USAID workspaces and return government-issued devices.”
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