- Chief Justice John Roberts has paused an order that would have made the Trump administration restore funding to global projects, CNN reports.
- USAID’s funding was paused as part of a broader directive from President Donald Trump.
- USAID and the State Department filed an appeal, claiming the restoration deadline is unrealistic.
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Chief Justice John Roberts has paused an order that would have made the Trump administration restore funding to global projects, CNN reports. A federal judge previously reversed an order that cut off millions in assistance, and after the administration failed to comply with the initial ruling, the federal judge had given the government until midnight Wednesday, Feb. 26, to follow through.
USAID funding cut by Trump Administration
Under a directive from President Donald Trump, the U.S. Agency for International Development temporarily halted millions of dollars in global funding.
On Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order halting foreign aid for 90 days, intensifying the pause on federal assistance. This decision affected humanitarian efforts worldwide, including food security and disaster recovery.
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled the government must resume payments. Ali cited the damage caused by the lack of funding to the world’s poorest nations. The judge emphasized the payments should be restored as initially ordered on Feb. 13, providing a deadline for action.
The Department of Government Efficiency, which investigates wasteful government spending, began scrutinizing USAID before Trump took office.
Worldwide impact from foreign aid disappearing
Several contractors and organizations, including the U.N. World Food Program, sued the administration over the funding cuts. The U.N. has been waiting on over $820 million in funding to continue its efforts.
The Justice Department failed to answer whether the administration complied with the original ruling. USAID and the State Department have filed an appeal and claimed the 11:59 p.m. deadline is unfeasible due to the nearly $2 billion owed in payments.
The government filed an appeal to the judge’s ruling, while organizations that rely on USAID funding face delays in receiving essential resources.
CNN reports that Roberts’ order does not resolve the underlying questions, but it did impose an “administrative stay” to give the court a few days to review the case’s written arguments.
