A U.S. federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked aspects of the Trump administration’s plan to scale down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), allowing approximately 2,700 furloughed employees to return to work.
Court Blocks Mass Furloughs and Forced Relocations
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, issued an order preventing the administration from placing 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave starting Saturday. The ruling also reinstates 500 workers already placed on leave and prohibits the administration from relocating humanitarian workers stationed abroad.
The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the largest U.S. government workers’ union and a foreign service workers’ association, challenging the administration’s efforts to close the agency. Nichols ruled that the unions had demonstrated a “strong showing of irreparable harm” if the court did not intervene.
However, the judge denied requests to reopen USAID buildings and restore funding for grants and contracts. The temporary order remains in effect until February 14, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday to determine whether a longer-term pause is warranted.
Trump Administration Cites Corruption in USAID Shake-Up
The Trump administration had announced plans to retain only 611 essential workers out of USAID’s 10,000-member global workforce. Justice Department attorney Brett Shumate argued that the move was necessary, citing allegations of corruption and fraud within USAID, though no evidence was provided.
On Truth Social, Trump claimed corruption at USAID was at “levels rarely seen before”, calling for the agency to be shut down. The administration had already issued stop-work directives to the State Department, effectively freezing nearly all foreign aid, except for emergency food assistance.
Foreign Aid Halt Sparks Global Concerns
Trump’s executive order, issued just hours after his inauguration on January 20, paused all U.S. foreign aid to ensure alignment with his “America First” policy. This has led to widespread disruption at USAID, an agency responsible for distributing billions of dollars in humanitarian aid worldwide.
The restructuring is being overseen by billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, who has been leading efforts to shrink the federal government. Experts warn that the halt in USAID operations threatens millions of vulnerable people, as it has cut off funding for programs related to women’s health, clean water access, HIV/AIDS treatment, and energy security.
In 2023, the U.S. disbursed $72 billion in foreign aid, much of it through USAID. The agency provided 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024, despite accounting for less than 1% of the U.S. budget.
With USAID programs now stalled, global aid organizations fear that the freeze could have devastating humanitarian consequences in crisis zones worldwide.
