A federal judge has extended the pause on the Trump administration’s dismantling of the US Agency for International Development for another week after an extensive hearing Thursday. This case is a significant early test of President Donald Trump’s power to reduce the federal workforce and shutter an agency.
Judge Carl Nichols of the DC District Court has decided to keep a court order in place that reinstates USAID workers who were placed on paid leave by the administration. The order also blocks the administration from taking further actions until February 21 that could potentially harm USAID workers, especially those stationed in high-security risk foreign countries.
Nichols, a 2019 Trump appointee to the trial-level court, has not yet made a final decision on whether he will allow the administration’s plans to dismantle the agency or permanently block it. He has indicated that a ruling on this matter will be made by the end of next week, although any decision is likely to be appealed.
It is worth noting that other cases challenging the closure of USAID are still ongoing in court, indicating the complexity and significance of this issue.
