The US Supreme Court has rejected a request by the Trump administration to withhold nearly $2 billion in payments to foreign aid organizations for work already completed.
On Wednesday, February 5, the court upheld a lower court ruling that ordered the administration to release funds to contractors and grant recipients of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has implemented significant cuts to foreign aid programs, placing most USAID staff on leave or dismissing them. These actions have drawn criticism from aid agencies, which argue that the cuts have jeopardized life-saving operations worldwide.
Legal Battle Over Aid Payments
Last month, District Judge Amir Ali ordered the State Department and USAID to pay contractors for completed work by February 26. As the deadline approached, the Trump administration sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court, claiming it was impossible to process claims in such a short timeframe. Chief Justice John Roberts initially issued a brief administrative stay, but the full court ultimately declined to halt the lower court’s order in a narrow 5-4 decision.
Supreme Court’s Decision and Dissenting Opinions
The Supreme Court ruled that Judge Ali’s deadline had passed and directed the district court to clarify the administration’s obligations to comply with the order. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, with Justice Alito expressing disbelief that a single district court judge could compel the government to release $2 billion in taxpayer funds.
The Crushing Impact on Global Aid Efforts
The Trump administration’s cost-cutting initiatives, led by efforts to shrink the federal workforce, have already disrupted global aid operations. USAID cutbacks have frozen hundreds of programs in dozens of countries, affecting millions of people who rely on US humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings are still on, with a district court hearing scheduled for Thursday to address contractors’ requests for extended relief. The case began when two aid groups challenged Trump’s 90-day freeze on foreign assistance, leading to Judge Ali’s initial pause on the cuts and subsequent order for payment.
