Thu Feb 27 03:00:00 UTC 2025: **Federal Government Fails to Meet Deadline for Releasing Frozen Foreign Aid**

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has missed a court-ordered deadline to release approximately $2 billion in frozen foreign aid, claiming it needs weeks to untangle complex payment systems. A federal judge had set a midnight Wednesday deadline following accusations that the administration was defying previous orders to lift a blanket freeze on funding.

The Justice Department filed an appeal with a federal appeals court seeking to stay the lower court’s ruling, arguing that restarting funding for terminated or suspended agreements is a complex process requiring multiple weeks, not the two weeks already afforded to them. They claim to have released only around $15 million by the deadline.

This failure comes after aid groups and businesses, facing financial ruin and even threats of violence in some countries due to unpaid vendors, successfully petitioned the courts to compel the release of funds. They presented evidence of thousands of American workers furloughed or laid off as a result of the freeze.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, who issued the original order, expressed skepticism at the government’s claims, noting the administration hadn’t proposed a revised timeline for compliance despite having two weeks to do so. He rejected the government’s request for a stay.

The Justice Department counters that it has undertaken a “good-faith, individualized assessment” of over 12,000 contracts and grants, resulting in the termination of over 10,000. They attribute the delay to the administrative process, claiming that Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally reviewed each award. Aid groups dispute this, arguing it would be logistically impossible.

This is the second time this month the Trump administration has been found in contempt of court for failing to comply with orders related to the aid freeze. These actions have raised concerns about the administration’s willingness to adhere to judicial rulings, particularly given a recent social media post by Vice President JD Vance suggesting judges lack the authority to control executive power. President Trump, however, has publicly stated his intention to abide by court orders while pursuing appeals. The legal battle continues.

Read More