Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore USAID funding

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate funding for foreign aid programs, rejecting the administration’s attempt to halt United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiatives.

Judge Amir Ali issued the ruling after reviewing appeals from the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Global Health Council – two organizations that rely on USAID funding to operate abroad. The judge criticized the administration’s argument that funding needed to be suspended for further program analysis, noting that the government failed to justify why cutting off congressionally approved aid was necessary.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 25 suspending USAID programs for 90 days. The administration later announced plans to merge USAID with the State Department, effectively dissolving it as a separate agency.

This ruling follows a February 7 decision by federal judge Carl Nichols, who blocked the administration’s effort to prevent USAID employees from reporting to work. Established in 1961, USAID has played a significant role in funding global efforts to combat poverty, disease, and humanitarian crises, as well as promoting democracy and development worldwide.