Judge temporarily blocks 2,200 USAID workers from being placed on leave by midnight
A Trump-appointed judge made a significant decision at an emergency hearing on Friday regarding the administration’s plan to place 2,200 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees on paid leave by midnight. The judge announced that he would impose a temporary block on the plan, as reported by Fox News.
During the hearing, the judge also expressed uncertainty about whether the 500 employees who had already been placed on leave would be included in his order. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols sided with two federal employee associations, the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, who had filed lawsuits challenging the order.
The lawsuit filed by the employee associations accused government officials of ignoring the severe consequences of their actions on American workers, millions of people worldwide, and U.S. national interests. The judge determined that the plaintiffs had demonstrated irreparable harm and emphasized that pausing the plan would not harm the government.
President Trump had previously expressed his support for shutting down the USAID agency on Truth Social. An official from USAID revealed that the agency had effectively ceased operations, with a majority of employees gone and funding halted. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured that crucial life-saving programs administered by USAID overseas had been granted waivers to continue.
Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, USAID had a substantial workforce of over 10,000 employees and an annual budget of around $40 billion. Despite the temporary restraining order issued by the judge, the USAID website outlined plans to place all direct hire personnel on administrative leave globally, except for specific designated personnel responsible for critical functions.
President Trump and Elon Musk, overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency, hinted at the possibility of transferring USAID’s life-saving programs to the State Department as part of cost-cutting measures. Senator Rubio affirmed that the U.S. government would continue providing foreign aid aligned with national interests.
Critics from the Democratic party argued that the administration’s actions were illegal and required Congressional approval. The Associated Press contributed to the coverage of this significant development.
In conclusion, the judge’s decision to temporarily block the administration’s plan to place USAID employees on leave has sparked debates about the future of the agency and the impact on international aid programs. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
