A bouquet of white flowers is displayed outside the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters in Washington on February 7, 2025.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

WASHINGTON — A federal judge has directed the Trump administration to temporarily lift a three-week funding suspension that halted U.S. aid and development initiatives globally.

Judge Amir Ali issued the ruling Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington following a lawsuit filed by two health organizations that depend on U.S. funding for international programs.

In his ruling, Ali highlighted that the Trump administration claimed it needed to pause funding for numerous U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiatives to conduct a comprehensive assessment of each program and determine its future viability.

However, the judge noted that administration officials “have not provided any rationale for why a blanket suspension of all congressionally allocated foreign aid, which created a disturbance and disrupted” agreements with countless nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other entities, “was a logical precursor to reviewing these programs.”

This ruling marks the first instance of a temporary rollback against a Trump administration funding freeze on international assistance, which had forced USAID and State Department contractors worldwide to halt humanitarian efforts and terminate staff, stalling a significant part of the global aid distribution system.

The judge’s order reinstates funding for existing contracts that were in place before Trump implemented his January 20 executive order that froze foreign assistance, labeling much of it as inconsistent with his policy goals.

On the same day, a separate judge addressed the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back USAID and U.S. aid programs abroad, confirming that the suspension of the decision to remove most USAID staff from their roles globally will remain effective for at least another week.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols mandated the extension following a three-hour hearing that primarily examined the implications for employees affected by the abrupt directives from Trump and his ally Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, to place numerous USAID personnel on leave and halt foreign aid funding.

The judge indicated that he intends to issue a written ruling on whether to prolong this suspension in the coming days.

Nichols, appointed by Trump, questioned the government regarding the safety of employees held on leave in high-risk overseas environments. When a Justice Department lawyer failed to present detailed plans, the judge requested that they submit court documents post-hearing.

USAID personnel, previously stationed in Congo, had submitted affidavits for the lawsuit recounting how the agency effectively abandoned them amid a surge of looting and political unrest in Congo’s capital last month, compelling their evacuation with family members.

The funding freeze and the displacement of top USAID officials meant agency staff are currently left stranded in Washington without housing or funding, leading to the risk of job loss, as stated in their affidavits.

The judge dealt a setback to the administration last week by temporarily halting proposals that would have led to thousands of staff members being placed on leave, requiring those stationed abroad to return to the U.S. at government expense within a mere 30 days. His initial order was set to lapse at the close of Thursday.

Two associations representing federal employees urged the judge to maintain this suspension and demand the lifting of Trump’s freeze on nearly all foreign assistance. According to USAID employees and humanitarian organizations, the president’s halt has effectively stalled most of the thousands of U.S.-financed aid and development programs worldwide.

Nichols rigorously questioned USAID unions’ attorneys during Thursday’s hearing, probing into how the funding stoppage was impacting agency operations.

The judge’s inquiries addressed the concept of legal standing—whether the unions could demonstrate the type of legal injury that warranted ongoing obstruction of the Trump administration’s strategy.

While the legal standing is a procedural detail, it holds great significance. A different judge previously cited it when allowing a Musk-assisted initiative aimed at reducing the federal workforce through voluntary resignations, commonly referred to as buyouts.

While the administration and Musk’s cost-cutting efforts via the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have targeted various agencies, their most severe actions have been directed at USAID, claiming without evidence that its operations are wasteful and misaligned with Trump’s policy objectives.

In a court submission, deputy USAID chief Pete Marocco contended that “insubordination” hindered the new administration’s ability to thoroughly investigate aid programs without first sidelining nearly all USAID employees and halting assistance initiatives. No supporting evidence was provided for this claim.

USAID personnel, in their court documents, denied any allegations of insubordination, stating they were endeavoring to fulfill what they identified as unclear and bewildering orders—some reportedly issued by a Musk associate and other external parties.

Supporters of the agency informed Democratic senators earlier this week that the suspension—coupled with other actions from the administration, including the termination of USAID’s lease for its Washington headquarters—aimed to eliminate USAID before either lawmakers or courts could intervene.

The employee groups, alongside Democratic lawmakers and other advocates, argue that without congressional consent, Trump lacks the authority to dismantle USAID or terminate its initiatives. However, the administration asserts that the powers of courts or lawmakers to intervene are severely limited.

“The President’s authority regarding foreign affairs is generally extensive and largely beyond judicial scrutiny,” government attorneys claimed in their court filings.