The Supreme Court has decided to allow the Trump administration to proceed with a $2 billion foreign aid payout, rejecting an appeal to block a lower court’s order. This decision came on a Wednesday and was a close 5-4 ruling, highlighting deep divisions within the Court.
A lower court had previously issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration’s move to stop payments to USAID contractors. The justices’ ruling means that the funds must be released, despite the administration’s concerns about executive power and the timeline imposed by the court.
Justice Samuel Alito, along with Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, strongly disagreed with the majority opinion. In a dissenting statement, Alito questioned whether a single district court judge should have the authority to compel the federal government to disburse such a large amount of taxpayer dollars. He expressed disbelief that the majority of the Court would support this order.
The Trump administration argued that the restraining order overstepped the boundaries of executive authority and that the timeline set for compliance was unrealistic. The Supreme Court did suggest that the lower court reconsider how much time the government needs to act, indicating some acknowledgment of the administration’s concerns.
This ruling is a significant blow to the Trump administration, which is already dealing with numerous lawsuits and injunctions that it claims are restricting its executive powers. The administration views this decision as part of a larger pattern of judicial challenges that threaten its agenda.
