🚨 Big news in the U.S. government! A federal judge has hit the pause button on the Trump administration's plan to lay off 2,200 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This move is part of an effort to dismantle the agency, which plays a crucial role in distributing humanitarian aid around the world.
Judge Carl Nichols, nominated by President Donald Trump, made the decision during a hearing where he listened to arguments from the largest U.S. government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers. While he paused the layoffs, he didn't fully back all the union's requests, such as reopening USAID offices and restoring funding for grants and contracts.
In a notice sent out on Thursday, the administration had announced that only 611 out of over 10,000 global USAID workers would remain essential. However, Judge Nichols argued that these drastic cuts exceeded the executive's authority, violating the separation of powers.
Justice Department's Brett Shumate mentioned that around 500 employees were already placed on leave, citing allegations of corruption and fraud within USAID. Trump echoed these sentiments on Truth Social, pushing for the agency's closure as part of his "America First" policy.
USAID has been a backbone for billions in humanitarian aid, funding everything from women's health in conflict zones to clean water projects and anti-corruption initiatives. Despite accounting for less than 1% of the federal budget, the U.S. provided 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.
Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, has been overseeing the efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy, including USAID. This legal battle could have significant implications for billions in aid and the millions of lives it impacts worldwide. Stay tuned as we follow this developing story! 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Judge blocks USAID layoffs as Trump moves to dismantle agency
cgtn.com
