Trump's Foreign Aid Freeze Temporarily Upheld by Supreme Court Chief Justice

The decision follows a deadline for the administration to pay contractors, amid extensive cuts to USAID programs.

In a significant intervention, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has granted temporary support to the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid payments, impacting hundreds of programs worldwide. The decision arrives as the administration faced a midnight deadline to settle financial obligations with contractors, following a ruling from US District Judge Amir Ali that mandated approximately $2 billion in payments.

Officials from the administration argued that due to the tight deadline, it was impossible to process the payments in an orderly manner. Since assuming office in January, President Donald Trump has swiftly moved to terminate numerous aid programs that were principally managed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This has resulted in the majority of USAID staff being placed on administrative leave or being laid off.

The administration's efforts are part of an initiative to reduce the federal workforce and curb expenses, a campaign notably spearheaded by billionaire advisor Elon Musk. Musk prompted federal employees to document their contributions over the previous week, which intensified existing frustrations among the workforce and created friction with department leaders.

Judge Ali's order was just one of several judicial attempts to intervene in the flurry of executive actions being taken by the Trump administration. As the deadline loomed, the administration sought recourse from the Supreme Court, asserting that Judge Ali's mandate had significantly complicated what was intended to be a systematic review of foreign aid funding.

The ongoing cutbacks to USAID have substantially altered the global aid landscape, resulting in the suspension of numerous programs in various countries since Trump intervened in January. The United States is the largest contributor to global humanitarian aid, with operations in over 60 nations and active involvement in several more, much of which is conducted via contracted entities. Reports indicate that the Trump administration plans to slash more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts, totaling around $60 billion in overseas assistance.