A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must temporarily restore foreign aid funding to programs worldwide, despite ongoing efforts to withhold the assistance. The decision comes after a lawsuit by nonprofit groups challenging the administration's cutoff of foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department.
The judge's order, issued on February 13, aimed to lift the freeze on foreign aid. However, administration officials have been accused of finding ways to continue suspending funding by coming up with new justifications for the halt.
Despite the court order, USAID Deputy Secretary Pete Marocco and other officials have reportedly maintained a blanket suspension of funds, leading to significant disruptions in aid and development programs overseas.
The Trump administration has defended its actions, arguing that it has the authority to stop or terminate payments under existing contracts without violating the judge's order. Officials claim they are conducting a comprehensive review of all foreign assistance programs to align them with the administration's priorities.
Meanwhile, aid organizations and USAID personnel have raised concerns about the impact of the funding freeze, citing layoffs and financial strain on government partners. The abrupt halt in U.S. foreign assistance has caused widespread disruptions and uncertainty in global aid efforts.
Despite the court's ruling, reports indicate that payments owed by the government have not been fully restored, further exacerbating the challenges faced by aid recipients and program implementers.
