Photo: Depositphotos
The US Supreme Court has ruled against President Donald Trump’s initiative to freeze nearly $2 billion in international aid intended for foreign recipients through USAID and State Department programmes. This was reported by the Voice of America.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court justices voted 5 to 4 to uphold a lower court ruling that ordered the government to continue paying on executed contracts. This was the first significant judicial blow to the Trump administration’s decisions on international financing.
At the same time, the judges noted that the federal judge who ordered the resumption of payments must clearly explain what financial obligations the US government must fulfil.
The vote split the Supreme Court: three liberal justices were joined by conservatives John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett (appointed by Trump himself) to form a majority.
At the same time, Judge Samuel Alito dissented sharply:
“Does one district judge have unlimited power to force the US government to pay back (and possibly lose) $2 billion in taxpayer dollars? The answer should be no, but the majority of this court thinks otherwise. I am stunned.”
The ACLU, a human rights organisation, also expressed its position and supported a lawsuit against Trump’s decision:
“President Trump’s attempt to cut off funding for foreign aid is a reckless, cruel and unprecedented abuse of executive power,” said Anthony Romero, the organisation’s director.
As a reminder, at the end of last month, District Judge Amir Ali, appointed by President Joe Biden, banned the Trump administration from suspending or delaying international aid.
These court battles are unfolding against the backdrop of Trump’s broad campaign to cut US government spending and eliminate a number of its departments, in which entrepreneur Elon Musk is actively involved.
