US Judge Orders Lift on Trump Foreign Aid Funding Freeze

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily lift a freeze on foreign aid funding, citing the negative impact on humanitarian and development programs worldwide. Judge Amir Ali criticized the administration for failing to justify the blanket suspension of congressionally appropriated aid and noted the financial devastation caused to non-profits and businesses that rely on these funds. The ruling is a response to lawsuits from various organizations affected by the cuts, which included significant layoffs and halted aid deliveries. The judge mandated that the government notify all organizations with existing contracts about the lift on the funding freeze. This decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Trump administration's plans to reorganize the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its foreign assistance programs. The order represents a significant legal challenge to the administration's efforts to reshape U.S. foreign aid policy.