In a recent legal action, employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are urging a federal judge to maintain a temporary injunction against the Trump administration’s initiative aimed at significantly reducing the agency’s global workforce.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, issued a ruling that paused the administration’s plans which intended to place thousands of USAID workers on leave. This decision also stipulated that staff stationed abroad would have only 30 days to return to the United States at the expense of the government. However, Nichols’ order is set to expire soon, raising concerns among the affected employees.
Two employee associations are advocating for the continuation of the injunction and the suspension of President Trump’s freeze on most foreign aid, which has severely impacted various humanitarian efforts. According to USAID personnel and aid organizations, Trump’s freeze has led to the suspension of clinics, emergency water deliveries, and nearly all other U.S.-funded aid programs globally.
Critics argue that the administration’s cost-cutting measures, branded as the Department of Government Efficiency and supported by billionaire Elon Musk, have particularly targeted USAID with claims that its operations are wasteful and inconsistent with the administration’s objectives. However, these assertions lack supportive evidence.
In a court submission, Pete Marocco, the deputy head of USAID, claimed that the “insubordination” among employees has hindered the new administration’s plans to review aid programs effectively, implying that the staff must be sidelined for this process to unfold. This statement was made without providing evidence.
In response, USAID staff members have contended that they are not insubordinate; rather, they are striving to interpret and follow vague and confusing directives, some originating from associates of Musk and other external parties.
On Wednesday, agency advocates informed Democratic senators that the actions taken by the Trump administration — including the agency’s eviction from its Washington headquarters — appear to aim at dismantling USAID before legal or legislative efforts could intervene.
Employee representatives and Democratic lawmakers argue that President Trump does not possess the authority to eliminate USAID or terminate its programs without congressional consent. The administration, however, maintains that the judicial and legislative branches have limited ability to contest its actions.
Government attorneys have articulated in court filings that “the President’s powers in the realm of foreign affairs are generally vast and unreviewable,” suggesting a robust defense of the administration’s stance amid ongoing challenges.
