In a tightly contested 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court on Wednesday prevented President Donald Trump’s administration from withholding payments to foreign aid groups for work they had already done. The ruling affirms an earlier injunction by US District Judge Amir Ali, compelling the government to release nearly $2 billion in aid money.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett were among the court’s three liberal justices who made up the majority, with Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissenting. The decision comes at a time when Trump is in his larger bid to suspend foreign aid, an action which has derailed humanitarian initiatives across the globe.
The case is a result of Trump’s executive order halting all foreign aid expenditures on his first day returning to office on January 20. Judge Ali earlier granted a temporary restraining order requiring the disbursement of funds in anticipation of injury to recipients of aid and organizations. The Supreme Court ruling directs Ali to clarify the government’s commitment while taking into account the realities of compliance deadlines.
In a sharply worded dissent, Justice Alito derided the ruling, wondering aloud if one judge could compel the government to unleash such a significant amount of funds. While aid groups contended that further delays in funding would inflict “irreversible harm,” threatening key humanitarian initiatives.
Trump’s administration, with the guidance of adviser Elon Musk, has moved aggressively to curtail the federal government’s influence, slashing funds for several agencies. Critics say that suspending US-supported aid puts millions of vulnerable individuals at risk around the world.
The decision is a major blow to Trump’s foreign policy strategy, as court battles rage on over his administration’s attempts to reform government spending and constrain America’s involvement in global humanitarian aid.