Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Release $2 Billion in USAID Foreign Aid Due Before Feb 13

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Updated Mar 11, 2025, 04:31 PM

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments that were due for work completed before February 13. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in Washington, D.C., comes after the administration had halted aid payments on January 20, Trump's first day in office, following a review by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which flagged foreign aid spending as wasteful and fraudulent. Judge Ali declined to order the restoration of thousands of foreign aid contracts and grants that were canceled by the Trump administration since taking office. However, he ruled that the president does not have the authority to refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress for foreign aid, emphasizing that such spending power belongs to Congress. Ali also noted that the administration's blanket freeze on foreign aid was illegal. The judge's decision follows a series of legal challenges by organizations that contract with or receive grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department. These entities challenged the administration's blanket freeze on foreign aid payments, which was initiated by a January 20 executive order from President Trump. Ali has ordered the administration to pay approximately $671 million owed to organizations involved in the lawsuit by a deadline of March 14, and to file a report detailing compliance with the order.

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#Trump #Amir Ali #Department of Government Efficiency #DOGE #Ali #Congress #USAID #State Department

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Sources

washingtonpost.com(3)thestar.com(2)foxnews.com(2)ansa.it(2)

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost

U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali, who is overseeing the lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to suspend foreign assistance, has ordered the government to pay nearly $2 billion in outstanding aid to its humanitarian partners worldwide. https://t.co/flx29jnPCL

Miami Freedom Project

@miami_freedom

Trump’s attempt to unilaterally withhold congressionally-approved funds, including for critical social programs, is a dangerous power grab that weakens checks and balances and shifts more control to the executive. https://t.co/74O6fHTiAx

WMBD News

@WMBDNews

But Judge Amir H. Ali stopped short of ordering Trump officials to use the money to revive the thousands of contracts they have abruptly terminated for U.S. aid and development work around the world. https://t.co/0KnMWrl6g5