Mar 07 2025 3 mins
In a significant development, the US Supreme Court has made a pivotal decision regarding the Trump administration's attempt to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Trump administration must comply with a lower court order and pay out the nearly $2 billion in foreign assistance funds to nonprofit aid groups and contractors for work already completed.
This decision came after the Trump administration had issued an executive order to freeze these funds, citing the need to review and potentially cancel what they deemed as wasteful programs that did not align with the administration's foreign policy goals. However, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, a Biden appointee, issued a temporary restraining order requiring the administration to resume the payments, which the administration failed to comply with.
The Supreme Court's majority, which included Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the three liberal justices, upheld Judge Ali's order. This ruling mandates the government to honor its financial obligations for the completed work, despite the administration's arguments that the deadline set by the lower court was not feasible and that the order intruded on the executive branch's prerogatives in foreign affairs.
Justice Samuel Alito, in a strong dissent joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, expressed his astonishment at the majority's decision. Alito argued that a single district court judge should not have the power to compel the government to pay out such a large sum of taxpayer dollars, labeling it an act of "judicial hubris."
The impact of this decision is substantial, as many foreign aid groups and contractors had been on the brink of bankruptcy due to the frozen funds. These organizations have been forced to cut services and lay off thousands of workers. The ruling, while a short-term victory for these groups, does not resolve the broader issue, as the court left open the possibility of further legal battles over the administration's broader efforts to reshape foreign aid policies.
Judge Ali is set to hold a hearing to consider a more lasting preliminary injunction against the foreign aid freeze, indicating that this case is far from over. The Trump administration's actions, including the cancellation of thousands of USAID contracts and State Department grants, continue to be a point of contention, with the administration arguing that these changes are necessary for radical reforms in foreign aid.
Thank you for listening to the SCOTUS News Tracker podcast. For more updates and in-depth analysis, be sure to subscribe to our channel.
This decision came after the Trump administration had issued an executive order to freeze these funds, citing the need to review and potentially cancel what they deemed as wasteful programs that did not align with the administration's foreign policy goals. However, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, a Biden appointee, issued a temporary restraining order requiring the administration to resume the payments, which the administration failed to comply with.
The Supreme Court's majority, which included Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the three liberal justices, upheld Judge Ali's order. This ruling mandates the government to honor its financial obligations for the completed work, despite the administration's arguments that the deadline set by the lower court was not feasible and that the order intruded on the executive branch's prerogatives in foreign affairs.
Justice Samuel Alito, in a strong dissent joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, expressed his astonishment at the majority's decision. Alito argued that a single district court judge should not have the power to compel the government to pay out such a large sum of taxpayer dollars, labeling it an act of "judicial hubris."
The impact of this decision is substantial, as many foreign aid groups and contractors had been on the brink of bankruptcy due to the frozen funds. These organizations have been forced to cut services and lay off thousands of workers. The ruling, while a short-term victory for these groups, does not resolve the broader issue, as the court left open the possibility of further legal battles over the administration's broader efforts to reshape foreign aid policies.
Judge Ali is set to hold a hearing to consider a more lasting preliminary injunction against the foreign aid freeze, indicating that this case is far from over. The Trump administration's actions, including the cancellation of thousands of USAID contracts and State Department grants, continue to be a point of contention, with the administration arguing that these changes are necessary for radical reforms in foreign aid.
Thank you for listening to the SCOTUS News Tracker podcast. For more updates and in-depth analysis, be sure to subscribe to our channel.