The United States Supreme Court has blocked former President Donald Trump’s attempt to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments, upholding a lower court’s order to resume payments for completed contracts.
In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the decision that directed the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US State Department to fulfill their financial obligations. Trump had imposed a 90-day freeze on aid distribution in January, pending a review by the State Department.
The freeze disrupted humanitarian aid programs across multiple countries. In February, District Judge Amir Ali ordered the government to process payments by February 26. The Trump administration challenged this in the Supreme Court, arguing that such a timeline was unrealistic.
Despite objections from conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices in upholding the lower court’s ruling.
Alito, in his dissent, expressed strong opposition, stating, “Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the government of the United States to pay out $2 billion in taxpayer dollars? The answer should be an emphatic ‘no’.”
The ruling ensures that aid contracts will be honored, reaffirming the US government’s commitment to global humanitarian efforts.
