Supreme Court Stops Trump from Blocking Payments to Foreign Aid Groups – Reuters Reports
In a major decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against President Donald Trump’s plan to withhold payments to foreign aid groups, according to Reuters.
The court, divided 5-4, said the Trump administration must pay nearly $2 billion to organizations that have already done work for the U.S. government.
Reuters explains that this decision is a setback for Trump, who has been trying to cut funding for global humanitarian projects as part of his “America First” policy.
The court’s ruling supports an earlier order by a Washington judge, Amir Ali, who said the government must release the money to groups funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department.
Chief Justice John Roberts and conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices to form the majority. Reuters notes that the four other conservative justices disagreed with the decision. Justice Samuel Alito, in a strong dissent, called the ruling “stunning” and argued that a single judge should not have the power to force the government to pay such a large amount of money.
According to Reuters, the dispute began when Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid shortly after taking office in January. This move disrupted life-saving programs, including food and medical aid, causing chaos in global humanitarian efforts. Aid groups sued, saying Trump overstepped his authority by canceling funds that Congress had already approved.
Reuters highlights that the Supreme Court did not explain its decision but asked Judge Ali to clarify how the government should comply with the payment order. The court also noted that paying the $2 billion could take weeks.
The aid groups, including organizations fighting AIDS and helping refugees, told the court that delaying payments would cause “extraordinary and irreversible harm.” Reuters reports that these groups argued their work not only saves lives but also protects U.S. interests by addressing problems like disease and instability before they reach America.
The Trump administration, however, claimed it needed more time to review the payments to ensure they were legitimate. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris called Judge Ali’s order “judicial overreach” and said it gave the government too little time to act.
Reuters adds that this case is part of Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal government and reduce U.S. involvement in global aid. His administration has sent funding termination notices to many aid groups, putting millions of vulnerable people at risk, especially those in conflict zones or facing deadly diseases.
For more details on this story, visit Reuters’ website.