Supreme Court Orders Trump Administration to Release Foreign Aid Funds

U.S. Supreme Court Orders Trump Administration to Release Foreign Aid Funds

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, has ordered the Trump administration to release nearly $2 billion in funding to foreign aid organizations for work they have already performed. The court's decision is a setback for President Trump, who has been seeking to withhold the funds as part of his "America First" agenda.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberal members to form a majority in rejecting the Trump administration's request. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the decision.

The order by Judge Amir Ali, who is presiding over an ongoing legal challenge to Trump's policy, had originally given the administration until February 26 to disburse the funding. Justice Roberts paused that order hours before the deadline to give the Supreme Court additional time to consider the administration's request to block Judge Ali's ruling.

The court did not provide a rationale for its unsigned order on Wednesday. With the original deadline now lapsed, the court instructed Judge Ali to "clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order, with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines."

Justice Alito, in a dissent that was joined by three fellow conservatives, expressed dismay in the court's decision. He argued that a single district court judge should not have the power to compel the government to pay out $2 billion in taxpayer dollars.

Aid organizations accused Trump in lawsuits of exceeding his authority under federal law and the U.S. Constitution by effectively dismantling an independent federal agency and canceling spending authorized by Congress. They argued that the work they do advances U.S. interests abroad and improves the lives of millions of people across the globe.

The Trump administration had kept the disputed payments largely frozen despite a temporary restraining order from Ali that they be released. Ali's February 25 enforcement order at issue before the Supreme Court applied to payment for work done by foreign aid groups before February 13, when the judge issued his temporary restraining order.

The Supreme Court's decision is a victory for foreign aid organizations and the millions of people who depend on their work. It is also a reminder that the courts can play an important role in checking the power of the executive branch.