US Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration’s efforts to place thousands of USAID staff on leave

Judge bars Trump from putting 2,200 USAID workers on leave

A US judge on Friday temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to place 2,200 employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave, as part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency.

US District Judge Carl Nichols, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, issued a limited ruling following a lawsuit filed by the largest US government workers’ union and an association of foreign service workers, challenging the administration’s move to shut down USAID.

Judge pauses layoffs and relocation of humanitarian workers

• Judge Nichols announced his decision at a court hearing, stating that a written ruling would be issued later on Friday.
• His order prevents 2,200 USAID employees from being immediately placed on administrative leave.
• The ruling also pauses the relocation of certain humanitarian workers stationed abroad.
• However, Nichols did not agree to other union demands, such as reopening USAID offices and restoring funding for agency grants and contracts.

Trump administration’s justification for restructuring USAID

• The administration cited concerns over corruption and fraud within USAID as the reason for the agency’s restructuring.
• Justice Department official Brett Shumate told the court that 500 USAID employees had already been placed on leave, with plans to extend this to 2,200 employees.
• The administration stated that out of USAID’s 10,000-member workforce, only 611 essential workers would remain.

Trump himself reinforced these claims in a post on Truth Social, stating:

“USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE WAY IN WHICH THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, SO MUCH OF IT FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!”

However, no concrete evidence of fraud within USAID has been provided by the administration.

Foreign aid freeze and humanitarian crisis risks

• On January 20, hours after his inauguration, Trump ordered a full pause on US foreign aid to align it with his “America First” policy.
• This led to the State Department issuing stop-work directives, effectively freezing most US foreign aid programs except for emergency food assistance.
• USAID’s programs covering lifesaving aid worldwide were halted, sparking concerns that millions of vulnerable people could be at risk.

Experts warn that the sudden freezing of US foreign aid could have catastrophic consequences, particularly in conflict zones and disaster-stricken regions.

Elon Musk’s role in USAID overhaul

• The restructuring of USAID has reportedly been overseen by businessman Elon Musk, a close Trump ally.
• Musk has been leading the effort to shrink federal agencies, in line with Trump’s broader goal to reduce the size of the federal government.

The scale of USAID’s global impact

• In the 2023 fiscal year, the United States disbursed $72 billion in aid worldwide, partially through USAID.
• USAID’s programs have covered areas such as:
  • Women’s health in conflict zones
  • Access to clean water
  • HIV/AIDS treatment
  • Energy security
  • Anti-corruption efforts
• In 2024, the US accounted for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations, yet this represented less than 1% of the total US federal budget.

Conclusion

The Trump administration’s move to cut USAID funding and reduce its workforce has sparked legal challenges and concerns over the impact on global humanitarian efforts. While Judge Nichols’ ruling temporarily halts part of the administration’s plans, the fate of USAID remains uncertain as legal battles and political debates continue.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post US Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration’s efforts to place thousands of USAID staff on leave appeared first on PGurus.