Federal Judge Orders Trump to Restore USAID Foreign Aid Funding

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for foreign aid programs that were suspended under a 90-day freeze initiated by the president. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali criticized the administration for failing to provide a rational basis for the blanket suspension, which disrupted many businesses and nonprofits reliant on USAID contracts. The ruling temporarily halts any stop-work orders and mandates that existing contracts remain in effect while litigation continues. This decision marks a significant setback for Trump's efforts to dismantle USAID and has been framed as an unlawful exercise of executive power by the plaintiffs. The court's intervention highlights the potential harm caused by the funding freeze, which has already resulted in layoffs and halted humanitarian aid delivery. The administration's broader strategy to restructure government agencies is now under scrutiny as legal challenges to its policies gain traction.