Judge Dismisses USAID Dismantling Lawsuits on Jurisdiction Grounds

A federal judge appointed by President Trump dismissed a lawsuit filed by four groups challenging the Trump administration's dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), citing lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiff groups, including the American Foreign Service Association and the Personal Services Contractor Association, had sought to block the executive order that realigned U.S. foreign aid and ceased USAID operations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that USAID officially ceased foreign assistance activities, with relevant programs transferring to the State Department to increase accountability and align with American interests. The court did not address the substantive claims but emphasized judicial restraint in declining to hear the case. This ruling marks a significant legal victory for the Trump administration, which has faced challenges in lower courts on its foreign aid policy changes. The decision follows a contentious backdrop where a previous judge had ordered payments on foreign aid contracts despite the agency’s shutdown.