US Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Bid to Freeze USAID Funding

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, rejected the Trump administration's move to render billions in foreign aid, approved by Congress, frozen. 

The court did not specify when the funds must be released, allowing the administration to continue disputing the matter in lower courts.

The ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson form the majority while Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. 

In a sharply worded dissent, Justice Alito criticized the decision, arguing that the lower court had overstepped its authority.

The case centers on foreign aid from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that the Trump administration froze, aiming to align spending with its policy agenda. 

Several nonprofit organizations reliant on this funding sued, arguing that the bid violated Congress's control over government spending. 

They warned that withholding the aid would have severe consequences for global health and stability.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali had ordered the administration to release the funds temporarily while the case was reviewed, but the administration appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing it needed more time to comply. 

The appeal was expedited to the high court, highlighting the urgency of the dispute.

The Trump administration revealed that it had terminated nearly 5,800 USAID awards and retained around 500, with a total value of approximately $57 billion. 

Additionally, over 4,100 State Department awards were terminated, significantly impacting aid programs worldwide.