In a significant setback for the Trump administration, the US Supreme Court has denied a request to continue freezing nearly $2 billion in foreign aid. The decision, announced on Wednesday in a 5-4 ruling, confirmed a lower court’s order to unfreeze the funds, which had already been approved by Congress.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal justices in the majority, while four conservative justices—Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh—dissented. In his dissent, Alito expressed disbelief at the court’s decision, stating that a single district judge should not have the power to compel the government to disburse billions in taxpayer dollars.
The case stems from a 90-day freeze on all US foreign assistance ordered by Trump upon taking office on January 20, 2017, as his administration reviewed whether existing aid programs aligned with his “America First” policy. This sudden halt affected countless aid initiatives, disrupting the delivery of critical resources like medication and food to vulnerable populations.
Following the freeze, various aid organizations filed lawsuits seeking to compel the federal government to release the funds. In February, Judge Amir Ali ordered the temporary restoration of funding, recognizing that the administration was not complying with his previous ruling. He mandated that the funding freeze be lifted by midnight on February 26.
Ali noted that the Trump administration failed to justify the blanket suspension of congressionally appropriated foreign aid, which had caused significant disruptions.
After filing an emergency request with the Supreme Court to halt the lower court’s order, Chief Justice Roberts initially paused the deadline to allow for further review. Aid organizations argued that the ongoing freeze posed “extraordinary and irreversible harm” to their operations and the communities they serve.
On Wednesday, the court upheld Ali’s ruling and instructed him to clarify the government’s obligations to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order.
With the original deadline now passed, Ali will hold a hearing on Thursday to discuss the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.
According to the Just Security tracker, there have been 96 legal challenges to actions taken by the Trump administration thus far.
Credit: The Guardian
