A temporary restraining order has been extended, sparking legal debates and public outcry.
Judge Extends Halt on Trump’s U.S.A.I.D. Overhaul for Another Week
Judge Extends Halt on Trump’s U.S.A.I.D. Overhaul for Another Week
A federal judge continues to stall Trump administration's plan impacting U.S.A.I.D. personnel and operations.
February 13, 2025, 7:03 p.m. ET - A federal judge granted an extension on Thursday, pushing back the enforcement of a controversial plan proposed by the Trump administration aimed at revamping the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D). The order by Judge Carl Nichols, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, extends the temporary restraining order for one more week, preventing a directive that would have placed a significant number of U.S.A.I.D. employees on administrative leave while also mandating the return of overseas personnel.
Set to announce a decision by the end of next week, Judge Nichols has been tasked with evaluating a request for a preliminary injunction to completely ban key provisions of the proposed changes. This plan, pushed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been influential in efforts to shrink the federal budget, threatened to significantly alter the agency's structure, potentially impacting around 2,700 employees, including numerous Foreign Service officers.
Two unions representing U.S.A.I.D. staff—the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees—filed the lawsuit challenging the legality of President Trump’s executive order. They argue that Trump's freezes on foreign aid and directives to eliminate certain U.S.A.I.D functions are unconstitutional, seeking to have these actions annulled. The potential dismantling of the agency has raised concerns among congressional Democrats, U.S.A.I.D. employees, and foreign assistance organizations reliant on the agency, who all assert that such measures violate legal frameworks established by Congress that sustain the agency’s operations until at least March 14.
Set to announce a decision by the end of next week, Judge Nichols has been tasked with evaluating a request for a preliminary injunction to completely ban key provisions of the proposed changes. This plan, pushed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been influential in efforts to shrink the federal budget, threatened to significantly alter the agency's structure, potentially impacting around 2,700 employees, including numerous Foreign Service officers.
Two unions representing U.S.A.I.D. staff—the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees—filed the lawsuit challenging the legality of President Trump’s executive order. They argue that Trump's freezes on foreign aid and directives to eliminate certain U.S.A.I.D functions are unconstitutional, seeking to have these actions annulled. The potential dismantling of the agency has raised concerns among congressional Democrats, U.S.A.I.D. employees, and foreign assistance organizations reliant on the agency, who all assert that such measures violate legal frameworks established by Congress that sustain the agency’s operations until at least March 14.
