The ruling challenges Elon Musk\u2019s involvement in the shutdown, calling it a constitutional violation.
\n washington
\nA US federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from taking further steps to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), following a legal challenge over the actions of the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge), led by Trump ally Elon Musk.
\nIn a ruling issued on Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang stated that the efforts to close USAID were likely in violation of the US Constitution in multiple ways.
\nHe also ordered that access to USAID\u2019s computer and payment systems be restored for employees, including those who had been placed on leave.
\nThe court ruling came after a lawsuit was filed by 26 unnamed USAID employees, who claimed that Musk\u2019s role in overseeing the department was illegitimate, as he had not been officially nominated to a government position nor confirmed by the US Senate.
\nThe employees alleged that Musk was following \u201ca predictable and reckless slash-and-burn pattern\u201d in dismantling US government departments.
\nThe Trump administration had targeted USAID as part of a broader plan to cut costs after Trump\u2019s return to the White House in January.
\nA 90-day freeze on all US foreign aid was imposed, with USAID among the first agencies affected. Musk and Doge argued that Musk\u2019s role was purely advisory, but Judge Chuang disagreed, ruling that Musk and Doge exerted control over USAID in a manner that \u201clikely violated the United States Constitution.\u201d
\nThe ruling has unclear implications for the ongoing operations of USAID. Administration officials have stated that over 80% of the agency\u2019s activities have been halted. However, the judge\u2019s order effectively blocks further cuts to the agency for now.
\nThe White House criticised the decision, with spokesperson Anna Kelly calling it a \u201cmiscarriage of justice\u201d and vowing to appeal. She also accused \u201crogue judges\u201d of subverting the will of the American people in an attempt to stop President Trump from fulfilling his agenda.
\nNorm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, which represented the USAID employees, praised the ruling as \u201ca milestone in pushing back on Musk and Doge\u2019s illegality.\u201d
\nEisen criticised the administration\u2019s approach, saying it harmed not only USAID employees but also the public that depends on the stability of the US government.
\nThe ruling marks the latest legal setback for the Trump administration. Earlier this week, another federal judge had ordered a halt to the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, with President Trump calling for the impeachment of the judge. This prompted a rare rebuke from the chief justice of the US Supreme Court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The ruling challenges Elon Musk\u2019s involvement in the shutdown, calling it a constitutional violation. washington A US federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from taking further steps to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), following a legal challenge over the actions of the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge), led by Trump […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-468067","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n