Judge Orders Trump to Restore Foreign Aid Funds

A federal judge mandated the Trump administration to reinstate funding for foreign aid contractors affected by a 90-day freeze. This marks the first legal reversal of Trump's aid suspension, initially justified as a measure to assess program efficiency and alignment with U.S. priorities.

In a groundbreaking decision, a federal judge has commanded the Trump administration to reinstate funding for numerous foreign aid contractors affected by a 90-day program freeze. The court's ruling, issued Thursday, temporarily halts efforts to cancel contracts active prior to Trump assuming office.

This legal win represents the first counteraction against President Trump's directive to suspend foreign assistance. Initiated by two health organizations reliant on U.S. funding abroad, the lawsuit challenges the sudden halt imposed by Trump's sweeping governance reforms, targeting agencies including the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The purpose of the hiatus, as presented by Judge Amir Ali, was to evaluate the efficacy and alignment of foreign aid initiatives. However, he questioned the justification behind the blanket suspension that disrupted numerous longstanding agreements. Meanwhile, Trump has also prompted government agencies to initiate extensive job cuts, affecting numerous employees and restructuring bureaucratic frameworks.

(With inputs from agencies.)