Judge blocks Trump from placing 2,200 USAID workers on leave

A federal judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has issued a temporary block on the Trump administration’s plans to put 2,200 employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave. The judge, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, also halted an order that would have given just 30 days for the overseas USAID workers to relocate their families back to the U.S. at the government’s expense.

The judge’s decision was based on the potential risk and expense that the administration’s actions would have exposed the workers and their families to. This comes amidst President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to dismantle the agency, which has sparked outrage and protests from demonstrators and lawmakers.

Nichols highlighted that the administration had disconnected some workers living overseas from essential communication systems, such as government emails, needed for emergencies. Additionally, USAID contractors in regions like the Middle East reported that \”panic button\” apps had been removed from their phones when placed on leave abruptly.

The judge emphasized that the 30-day timeline for the workers to return to the U.S. would create significant challenges for many, including those who have spent decades overseas and have no home to return to in the U.S. Furthermore, families with children requiring special needs education would face disruptions by pulling them out of school mid-year.

Nichols ordered the reinstatement of 500 USAID staffers who had already been placed on leave by the administration. However, he declined to block an administration-imposed funding freeze that has shut down the agency’s work, pending further hearings on the workers’ lawsuit.

In a hearing prior to the ruling, Nichols clarified that his decision to pause the administration’s actions was not a judgment on the employees’ request to prevent the agency’s quick dismantling. President Trump had previously expressed his desire to “CLOSE IT DOWN,” referring to USAID, on his social media platform.

As the legal battle continues, it is evident that the future of USAID remains uncertain. The judge’s intervention has provided some relief to the affected employees, but the overarching question of the agency’s fate under the Trump administration lingers.