US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has issued an interim order to pause a federal judge’s requirement that President Donald Trump’s administration pay foreign aid funds to contractors and grant recipients. The order will give the court additional time to consider the administration’s formal request to block the ruling.
The decision came after the administration claimed it had made final decisions terminating most US foreign aid contracts and grants, while maintaining it cannot meet the deadline set by Washington-based U.S. District Judge Amir Ali. The administration is cutting over $58 billion in overall US assistance around the world, citing Trump’s “America First agenda.”
The foreign aid funding dispute arose from a pair of lawsuits brought by organizations alleging that agencies have illegally frozen all foreign aid payments. A temporary restraining order was issued on February 13, but the administration has kept those payments largely frozen despite multiple court orders to comply.
Lawyers for the US Justice Department maintained that the administration has a right to suspend its agreements while it reviews them to determine compliance with policy. The review is now complete, and the administration said USAID has made final decisions to cancel nearly 5,800 awards, while keeping more than 500, and that the State Department has canceled about 4,100 awards, while keeping about 2,700.
The plaintiffs argue that Trump’s actions violate federal law and the Constitution. They have requested a response from the administration by noon on Friday. An administration official stated that grounds for terminating contracts include diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts or deemed wasteful programs.
This pause in foreign aid funding has jeopardized global humanitarian relief efforts, which rely heavily on US assistance. The delivery of life-saving food and medical aid has been severely impacted, with USAID administrators being placed on paid administrative leave and 1,600 positions eliminated.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-administration-says-it-cannot-meet-court-deadline-foreign-aid-payments-2025-02-26