On Wednesday, a divided US Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to halt nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments.
In a 5-4 decision, the Court upheld a lower court ruling that mandated the administration to continue making payments on contracts that had already been finalized.
The justices noted that the federal judge who ordered the resumption of payments for contracts with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department should clarify what obligations the government must meet.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both conservative justices, joined the three liberal justices in the majority vote.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissent, which was supported by the other three conservative justices. He questioned whether a district court judge, who may lack jurisdiction, should have the power to force the US government to disburse $2 billion in taxpayer money.
Alito expressed his astonishment, saying, “The answer to that question should be an emphatic ‘No,’ but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise.”
The case began after District Judge Amir Ali, appointed by President Joe Biden, issued a temporary restraining order last month that barred the Trump administration from halting foreign aid funds.
Trump, alongside his top supporter Elon Musk, has been pushing for a reduction or dismantling of many parts of the US government, with a particular focus on USAID.
Trump has criticized USAID as being “run by radical lunatics,” while Musk has called it a “criminal organization” that needs to be dismantled.
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