Landmark Ruling: Court Orders Trump Administration to Release $2 Billion in Frozen Aid
Washington D.C. – In a landmark ruling, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali has ordered the Trump administration to release nearly $2 billion in frozen funds to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department by Monday, March 10, 2025.
The decision comes after non-profit groups and businesses sued the administration over its six-week funding freeze on all foreign assistance.
The funding freeze, implemented through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, has had a devastating impact on organizations worldwide. The administration’s actions have resulted in the cancellation of over 5,800 USAID contracts and 4,100 State Department grants, totaling nearly $60 billion in aid.
Judge Ali’s ruling favors the plaintiffs, casting doubt on the Trump administration’s claim that presidents have wide authority to override congressional spending decisions on foreign policy and aid.
Judge Ali expressed skepticism about the Trump administration’s argument, stating that allowing presidents to override congressional decisions on spending would be an “earth-shaking, country-shaking proposition.”
The ruling comes a day after a divided Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s bid to freeze funding that flowed through USAID, instructing Judge Ali to clarify the government’s obligations. The high court’s decision was made by a 5-4 vote, with four conservative justices dissenting.
In a related development, hundreds of USAID and State Department diplomats protested the dismantling of the foreign aid agency and the termination of aid contracts. They stated that it “jeopardizes our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, and creates openings for adversaries to expand their influence.”
