Court Halts Closure of US African Development Agency

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to close a minor federal office dedicated to fostering development projects in African nations. This decision came on Thursday after an urgent legal action was filed by Ward Brehm, the President and CEO of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF).

Judge Richard J. Leon of Washington, appointed by George W. Bush, issued the ruling shortly after the complaint was lodged. Brehm detailed in his lawsuit that he had instructed his employees to deny access to representatives from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Pete Marocco of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), both linked to entrepreneur Elon Musk. Brehm argued that neither DOGE nor Trump possessed the legal means to dismantle the USADF, as it was established through a congressional act.

The judicial order prevents the removal of Brehm and bars DOGE from appointing new board members in the immediate term. Concerns arose when, subsequent to an executive order from President Trump—aimed at reducing government size—attempts were made by DOGE to penetrate the agency’s computer infrastructure. According to Brehm’s accusations, USADF employees denied access to DOGE, purportedly intending to nullify grants and contracts.

Responding to the situation, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that federal employees cannot defy presidential orders or physically obstruct the administration’s representatives from performing their duties. However, the State Department has not yet commented on the unfolding events.

The Trump administration tasked DOGE and Musk, known for his influential business ventures and federal connections, with identifying and reducing wasteful or fraudulent practices. Additionally, Brehm’s complaint claims that DOGE and Marocco have also aimed to close the Inter-American Foundation, another entity dedicated to providing development support in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Recently, DOGE publicly announced personnel and funding cuts at the Inter-American Foundation, affecting various local projects in Latin America, including endeavors related to alpaca farming in Peru, agricultural projects in El Salvador, and beekeeping in Brazil. Furthermore, Trump has scrutinized other federally established organizations, namely the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Presidio Trust. These entities acknowledged ongoing cooperation with the administration’s information requests.

In a related contentious issue, the National Endowment for Democracy, a nonprofit known for its advocacy against authoritarian regimes, launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The organization claims it has been financially obstructed, a situation unprecedented in its 42-year history, reporting that it granted $238 million in donations in 2023. Among its affiliations is the International Republican Institute, previously associated with Marco Rubio, the current Secretary of State.