Judge Slams the Brakes on Trump’s Plan to Gut USAID as Musk Cheers the ‘Wood Chipper’
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So why is the Trump administration trying to put thousands of USAID employees on leave? And what did the judge say about the legality of that move? And how do Trump and Elon Musk justify their push to dismantle the whole agency?

Now, a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with a plan to place roughly 2,200 employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, on administrative leave. The order issued by Judge Carl Nichols in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., came in response to a lawsuit filed by two federal employee unions that argued the move was unconstitutional and also illegal.

Now, the Trump administration has scheduled the mass leave order to take effect at 11.59 p.m. Eastern on Friday as part of a broader effort to reduce USAID's operations. USAID, an independent government agency established in 1961, oversees foreign aid and development assistance around the world. The agency currently accounts for about 1% of the federal budget, according to a Brookings Institute report from September.

Judge Nichols, who was appointed by Trump in 2019, said his restraining order was very limited and specifically applied to the 2,200 workers who had not yet been placed on leave. He did not immediately decide whether to reverse the administration's actions against an additional 500 USAID employees who had already been placed on leave.

Now, the lawsuit against the administration was filed by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees. In court filings, the unions argued that U.S. aid was under an onslaught of unconstitutional and illegal attacks, leaving its workers, contractors, grantees, and beneficiaries deserted in the wreckage in a global humanitarian crisis in the wake.

They further accused the administration of engaging in a deliberate campaign to dismantle USAID's infrastructure and described the proposal to leave orders as a near-final killing blow to the agency. The unions requested that the court immediately halt the administration's efforts to limit USAID's operations. During Friday's hearings...

Nichols' press department of justice attorney, Brent Schmidt, on why the administration was moving so quickly to place the employees on leave. What's the urgency of this? Nichols asked. Schumet responded by setting allegations of corruption within USAID, saying the president has decided there is corruption and fraud at USAID. He did not provide specific evidence or wrongdoing, but maintained that the agency needed a major overhaul.

Now, Trump has been vocal about his disdain for USAID, accusing it of financial mismanagement and calling for its closure. On Friday morning, he wrote on Truth Social, in all caps, yelling, the corruption is at levels rarely seen before. Close it down! Now, the Post echoed his long-withstanding criticism of U.S. foreign aid programs, which he has argued are wasteful and ineffective.

Now, Elon Musk, who has played a key role in reshaping the federal government under the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, also took credit for the administration's actions against USAID. He said, He said that on X.

Musk's influence in administration has grown since the launch of DOGE, an initiative aimed at dramatically reducing the size of the federal workforce and consolidating government agencies. And his comments about USAID reflect his broader push to cut foreign aid spending and streamline government operations.

Now, USAID was created by President John F. Kennedy. It was created while he was there, following the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. It's played a central role in providing humanitarian aid, economic development assistance, and disaster relief worldwide. The agency's defenders argue that its programs advance U.S. foreign policy interests, promote global stability, and assist vulnerable populations.

But critics of the administration's actions warned that the sudden removal of thousands of U.S. aid employees could disrupt critical aid programs, including food assistance, medical relief efforts, and support for refugees in conflict zones. The unions representing U.S. aid workers have argued that their disruptions could have long-term consequences for both U.S. diplomatic relations and global humanitarian efforts.

The Brookings Institute report noted that while USAID's budget is a small fraction of overall federal spending... Save on Cox Internet when you add Cox Mobile and get fiber-powered internet at home and unbeatable 5G reliability on the go. So whether you're playing a game at home... Yes, cool! ...or attending one live...

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Sudden reduction in staffing could weaken U.S. leadership in foreign aid and development, the report suggested. Now, the judge's temporary restraining order is not a final ruling on the matter, though. The case is expected to proceed with further hearings where the administration will have to defend its rationale for sidelining U.S. aid workers. Nichols has not yet indicated when he will issue a more definitive decision on the legality of the leave orders.

Now, as legal proceedings continue, the future of USAID remains uncertain. The Trump administration's effort to curtail the agency's operations reflects a broader push to cut U.S. involvement in international aid, which is a priority that Trump has emphasized since his first term. He's always been for this. But for now, the restraining order means that USAID's 2,200 employees will remain on the job

at least temporarily, whether the administration ultimately succeeds in its attempt to restructure or shut down the agency will likely depend on the outcome of ongoing court battles and political negotiations.

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