Federal Judge Extends Restraining Order Against Administration's USAID Overhaul

A federal judge has issued an order to extend a temporary restraining order for an additional week. This order blocks the Trump administration from proceeding with plans that could effectively dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision comes as the administration sought to implement substantial cuts to the agency, affecting thousands of employees.

The restraining order specifically targets a directive that would have placed roughly 2,700 direct hires, including hundreds of Foreign Service officers, on administrative leave. It also intended to require overseas personnel to make their way back to the United States within 30 days. This move was part of a broader effort aimed at reducing the federal budget, a process heavily influenced by billionaire Elon Musk and shared criticisms between him and President Trump against the agency.

Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia mentioned that he planned to file the official order later on the day of the announcement. He also indicated that a final decision on whether to grant the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction, potentially blocking key elements of the administration’s strategy indefinitely, would be issued by the end of next week.