Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Move to Shut Down USAID

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Move to Shut Down USAID

A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a ruling on Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang stated that the move—led by Trump ally Elon Musk through the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge)—likely violated the U.S. Constitution "in multiple ways." The judge ordered Doge to restore USAID employees' access to computer and payment systems and to stop terminating staff, though he did not reinstate those already placed on leave.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 26 unnamed USAID employees, argues that Musk has been aggressively shutting down government agencies without proper authority.