Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Bid to Shut Down USAID

US President Donald Trump

A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), marking a significant legal blow to President Trump’s agenda.

In a landmark ruling on Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang declared that actions led by Elon Musk’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) — a Trump-aligned initiative — likely violated the U.S. Constitution “in multiple ways.”

The order mandates Doge to immediately restore USAID employees’ access to critical computer and payment systems and cease further terminations, though it stops short of reinstating workers already placed on leave.

The case, brought by 26 anonymous USAID employees, accused Musk and Doge of pursuing a “reckless slash-and-burn pattern” to dismantle federal agencies without legal authority.

Lawyers argued that Musk, who lacks Senate confirmation or an official government role, illegitimately wielded power to undermine USAID operations. Judge Chuang agreed, stating Doge’s overreach harmed both employees and the public interest.

The ruling comes after Trump’s January executive order freezing U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, which spurred Doge to target USAID for drastic cuts. Administration officials claim over 80% of the agency’s activities are now suspended.

The Trump administration condemned the decision, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly calling it a “miscarriage of justice” and vowing to appeal. Meanwhile, Norm Eisen of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, representing the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as a critical check on “Musk and Doge’s illegality,” accusing them of destabilizing government functions.

This case adds to the administration’s mounting legal challenges, including a separate federal judge’s order halting deportations of Venezuelan nationals — a move that prompted Trump to demand the judge’s impeachment, drawing rare criticism from the Supreme Court’s chief justice.