A U.S. District Judge has temporarily halted the plan to place 2,200 employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave. The decision comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the agency, which plays a critical role in distributing billions in humanitarian aid worldwide.
Judge Carl Nichols, nominated by President Donald Trump during his first term, made the announcement in Washington after a lawsuit was filed by the largest U.S. government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers. The unions argued that the administration's actions to close USAID were excessive and violated the separation of powers.
While a written ruling is expected later, Judge Nichols' interim order prevents the immediate placement of USAID employees on administrative leave and pauses the relocation of humanitarian workers abroad. However, he did not grant other union requests, such as the reopening of USAID buildings and the restoration of funding for grants and contracts.
In response to the administration's notice, only 611 essential workers will remain from USAID's global workforce of over 10,000. Brett Shumate, a Justice Department official, stated that the president alleges corruption and fraud within USAID, leading to the move to downsize the federal agency.
Since Trump's inauguration on January 20, the agency has faced significant challenges, including a freeze on foreign aid that jeopardized critical programs providing health, clean water, and energy security across the globe.
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Judge blocks USAID layoffs as Trump moves to dismantle agency
cgtn.com
