A federal judge has hit pause on mandatory administrative leave for employees of the U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID). The decision affects about 2,200 employees, with Judge Carl Nichols making it clear that this hold is temporary.
For now, these employees won’t be placed on leave, and the requirement for international staff to return to the U.S. has been halted, while 500 already on leave have been reinstated.
The restraining order from Judge Nichols is described as very limited, effective until February 14. The case, filed on February 6, was seen as an employer–employee dispute, with some arguments about irreparable harm deemed valid.
While the judge restored access to computer systems, the funding freeze remains in place, reflecting the ongoing tension around USAID operations.
The plaintiffs had sought to lift the funding freeze and restore access to payment systems, but were only partially successful. They argued that President Trump’s actions overstepped his authority, but Nichols upheld the president’s executive power under Article II of the Constitution.
The ruling came soon after external signage at USAID’s Washington offices was removed, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the agency’s future.
On Trump’s first day in office, he froze all foreign aid, and USAID’s website went offline shortly thereafter. Elon Musk, tapped by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), suggested the agency’s closure might be on the table. Yet, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acting as USAID’s interim director, hinted at possible reorganization instead.
Rubio assured in a Fox interview that this isn’t about eliminating foreign aid entirely. Instead, he suggested exploring which functions might shift to the State Department and which could remain within a revamped USAID. Meanwhile, Democrats, including Sen. Tim Kaine, have criticized Trump’s approach as illegal and unprecedented.
Kaine and 36 Democratic senators voiced concerns in a letter to Rubio, emphasizing the need for Congressional involvement and metric-based reviews before making drastic changes.
They stressed that abrupt alterations to crucial U.S. national security functions, without legal authority, are concerning. Rubio has consistently highlighted oversight issues within USAID, pointing to waste and corruption as significant challenges.
Reports of misuse of taxpayer dollars by USAID have been troubling. A Syrian national was charged last year with diverting $9 million in U.S. aid to a group linked to Al-Qaida.
Additionally, funds from the National Institutes of Health and USAID reportedly ended up with institutions connected to the Chinese Communist Party, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology, raising red flags.
Senator Joni Ernst remarked that insiders seem more upset with DOGE’s efforts to curb wasteful spending than with USAID’s financial mismanagement. The debate over USAID’s future continues, as lawmakers grapple with the best path forward. The situation underscores the broader challenges of balancing foreign aid with fiscal responsibility.
As February 14 approaches, all eyes remain on the court’s next move and the potential implications for USAID. The agency’s role in foreign aid and national security remains a hot topic in Washington.
The temporary injunction serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in managing international aid in today’s global landscape.
