Fri Feb 14 05:18:14 UTC 2025: **Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration’s Worldwide Aid Freeze**

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday, February 14, 2025, halting the Trump administration’s three-week freeze on U.S. foreign aid. The ruling comes as a significant blow to the administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which President Trump and Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), allege is misaligned with their agenda.

The judge, Amir Ali, cited the “sweeping damage” inflicted on non-profit organizations and contractors due to the abrupt cutoff of funds. Hundreds of millions of dollars in payments for completed work are outstanding, and widespread layoffs have resulted. The judge found the administration’s justification—a purported need for a thorough program review—lacking in rationality, particularly given the devastating impact on countless small and large businesses.

The ruling prevents the administration from enforcing stop-work orders and mandates the resumption of funding for contracts predating President Trump’s January 20th executive order. The judge dismissed the administration’s claim of a waiver system to mitigate the impact, citing evidence that such a system is non-functional.

This decision follows a separate court order, issued by Judge Carl Nichols, temporarily halting the administration’s plan to place thousands of USAID employees on leave. Judge Nichols extended this order for at least another week, raising concerns about the safety of USAID staff stationed in high-risk areas and expressing dissatisfaction with the administration’s lack of detailed evacuation plans. Affidavits from USAID staff describe being abandoned during recent violence in Congo.

The Trump administration argues its actions are within the President’s broad authority in foreign affairs, while critics, including Democratic lawmakers and employee groups, contend the actions are unconstitutional without congressional approval. The legal battles continue, with further hearings scheduled to determine the long-term fate of USAID and the foreign aid program.

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