03/05/2025

Divided SCOTUS Rules that Judge Can Force USAID Payments to Restart

The decision was 5-4

A sharply divided Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on Wednesday denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court order on foreign aid funding, clearing the way for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to restart nearly $2 billion in payments for work already done.

Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr. and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberal justices in the 5-4 order, which was the high court's first significant move on lawsuits related to President Donald Trump's initiatives in his second term.

The majority did not explain the reasoning for its decision but directed the lower court to clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to global health groups for work already completed, with consideration of the "feasibility of any compliance timelines."

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.