Global — A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration’s attempts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The judge ruled that actions by Elon Musk’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) likely violated the U.S. Constitution.
On Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang issued a ruling blocking any further actions to close USAID. He ordered Doge to restore access to USAID’s computer and payment systems for employees, including those who had been placed on leave. The judge also ordered that the termination of USAID employees should cease, but he did not require the reinstatement of those already on leave.
This decision came after 26 anonymous USAID employees brought a case to court. They accused Musk of following “a predictable and reckless slash-and-burn pattern” in dismantling U.S. government departments. In their complaint filed on February 13, the employees’ lawyers argued that Musk’s authority is illegitimate since he has not been officially nominated or confirmed for a government role. They requested that Doge’s activities be stopped and reversed.
USAID was among the first agencies targeted for cuts after Trump returned to the White House in January, when he ordered a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid. Musk and Doge claimed in court documents that Musk’s role is merely advisory.
However, Judge Chuang ruled that Musk and Doge had control over USAID and that their actions likely violated the Constitution in several ways, harming both the plaintiffs and the public interest. It is currently unclear how the ruling will impact USAID’s operations, as administration officials have stated that over 80% of the agency’s activities have been halted.
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The Trump administration criticized the ruling, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly calling it a “miscarriage of justice” and vowing to appeal. Kelly claimed that “rogue judges are subverting the will of the American people” in their efforts to oppose Trump’s agenda.
Norm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, which represented the USAID employees, praised the ruling as a significant step against Musk and Doge’s illegal actions. He stated, “They are performing surgery with a chainsaw instead of a scalpel, harming not just the people USAID serves but the majority of Americans who count on the stability of our government.”
This ruling adds to the series of legal setbacks for the Trump administration. On Monday, another federal judge ordered a halt to the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, questioning why the order was not immediately implemented. In response, President Trump called for the impeachment of the judge, drawing a rare rebuke from the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
