The U.S. Supreme Court has denied President Trump’s bid to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid spending by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a narrow 5-4 decision. This ruling upholds a lower court order that requires the Trump administration to honor existing aid and contract obligations while the legal battle continues.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in rejecting the administration’s urgent plea. The decision marks the high court’s first notable action regarding lawsuits tied to President Donald Trump’s policies during his second term.
The Supreme Court ruling does not enforce immediate payment but allows the case to proceed in the district court. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, where U.S. District Judge Amir Ali is expected to issue a temporary injunction to push the administration to restart payments.
The decision sparked a strong dissent from four conservative justices, including Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who argued that a single district judge should not have the authority to compel the government to disburse such a large sum of taxpayer money..
This ruling is seen as a victory for USAID contractors and grant recipients, as well as a reaffirmation of congressional control over federal funding.
However, the Trump administration is likely to continue challenging the decision in lower courts.