U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has temporarily halted a federal judge's order that mandated the Trump administration to disburse approximately $2 billion in foreign aid funds to contractors by midnight. This decision follows a plea from the Trump administration to the Supreme Court to block the release of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, which they claimed they could not fulfill in time.
The administration argued that the federal judge's order created a payment plan conflicting with the President's responsibilities under Article II to safeguard the federal fisc's integrity and make informed decisions regarding foreign aid, constituting irreparable harm.
Respondents opposing the Trump administration must provide their feedback before Friday at 12 p.m., indicating that the pause may be short-lived. The administration disclosed plans to eliminate over 90% of USAID's foreign aid contracts and slash $60 billion in total U.S. assistance worldwide, significantly reducing U.S. development and humanitarian aid abroad.
These revelations shed light on the administration's substantial withdrawal from U.S. aid and development assistance overseas, departing from longstanding policies that view foreign aid as crucial for stabilizing other nations, economies, and fostering alliances.
The administration cited the need to eradicate inefficiencies accumulated over decades and hinted at forthcoming alterations in how USAID and the State Department administer foreign assistance to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars in advancing American interests.
President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk have intensified their efforts to curtail foreign aid, criticizing USAID projects as promoting a liberal agenda and squandering resources. The administration has also sought Supreme Court intervention in another case, disputing a lower court's decision to reinstate a federal watchdog agency head dismissed by Trump.
