The judge orders the Trump administration to pay nearly $ 2 billion in debts from the USAID and the State Department

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press

Washington (AP) – A federal judge gave Trump administration on Monday to pay nearly $ 2 billion on Monday due to the American agency for international development agency and the State Department, disgusting the six -week financing freezing from the administration on all foreign aid.

US District Judge Amir Ali ruled in favor of non -profit groups and companies that have continued to freeze funding, which has forced organizations around the world to reduce services and fire thousands of workers.

Ali’s questioning line suggested the skepticism of the Trump administration’s argument that the presidents have a large power to replace the decisions of the Congress concerning expenses with regard to foreign policy, including foreign aid.

“It would be a” proposal for land and country from the earth to say that credits are optional, “said Ali.

“The question I have for you is: Where do you get that in the constitutional document?” He asked a government lawyer, Indraneel on.

Thursday’s order is in a current case with more decisions to come to the rapid administration of 90% of USAID contracts worldwide.

Ali’s decision was one day after a divided Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration attempt to freeze the funding that crossed USAID. The High Court asked Ali to clarify what the government must do to comply with its previous prescription requiring the rapid release of the funds for the work that had already been carried out.

The freezing of funding came from an executive decree signed by President Donald Trump on January 20. The administration appealed after ALI rendered a temporary prohibition order and set a deadline to disclose the payment of the work already carried out.

The administration said it had replaced general spending freezing with individual determinations, which led to the cancellation of 5,800 USAID contracts and 4.1,000 State Department grants totaling nearly $ 60 billion in aid.

Originally published: March 6, 2025 at 3:47 pm PST