The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Wednesday (March 5) against the Trump administration's request to keep $2 billion in foreign aid frozen. The decision supports a lower court's ruling that the funds, initially halted by an executive order from President Donald Trump, must be released. However, the Supreme Court did not specify when the payments should be made, allowing the administration to contest the issue further in lower courts.
The ruling stems from a case involving the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department, whose funds were frozen as part of an effort to align foreign aid with Trump's policy goals. Several nonprofit groups, which rely on these funds for global health and development programs, challenged the freeze, arguing it usurped Congress's power over government spending and violated federal law.
Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, formed the majority. Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, dissented, expressing concern over the court's decision to allow a lower court judge to compel the administration to unfreeze the aid.
The ruling does not require immediate payment but opens the door for further court proceedings. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, who initially ordered the temporary release of funds, is expected to clarify the government's obligations in an upcoming hearing. The administration has already begun reviewing USAID's spending, resulting in the termination of thousands of programs, which could face additional legal challenges.
The aid freeze has halted numerous projects worldwide, including waterworks in Nigeria and medical supply provisions in Vietnam and Nepal. The court's decision marks another chapter in the ongoing legal battles over Trump's efforts to consolidate executive power and reshape government operations.