A U.S. federal judge has blocked Elon Musk’s attempt to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ruling that the move likely violated the U.S. Constitution. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by current and former USAID employees and contractors who challenged Musk’s legal authority to dismantle the agency.
Key Ruling Against Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
The lawsuit alleged that Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump’s administration, was unlawfully exercising power without Senate confirmation. District Court Judge Theodore Chuang agreed, stating that Musk’s actions breached the Appointments Clause of the Constitution and improperly bypassed congressional authority.
In his decision, Judge Chuang wrote:
“Allowing Musk to wield such unchecked authority would open the door to an end-run around the Appointments Clause and reduce it to nothing more than a technical formality.”
Chuang’s ruling also emphasized that the shutdown violated Congress’s authority to determine the operation and funding of USAID, which was established in 1961 to oversee foreign humanitarian aid programs.
Impact of the Ruling
Effective immediately, the ruling orders:
- Reinstatement of electronic access for USAID employees and contractors who had been locked out of email and internal systems.
- Halting staff terminations and requiring the agency to maintain operations unless officially decommissioned by an authorized government officer.
- Restoration of USAID headquarters access in Washington, D.C., unless the building’s closure is permanently confirmed by an acting administrator.
The ruling deals a significant blow to the Trump administration’s cost-cutting agenda, which had already seen widespread layoffs across federal agencies under Musk’s leadership at DOGE.
Controversy Over USAID Cuts
The attempted dismantling of USAID follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to scale back international aid spending. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that 83% of USAID’s programs had been canceled, significantly reducing U.S. humanitarian assistance in over 120 countries. The move sparked criticism from lawmakers, NGOs, and foreign allies who rely on U.S. aid for disaster relief, health programs, and economic development.
Trump’s executive order in January froze all foreign aid expenditures, citing the need for a review of overseas spending. Critics argue that such drastic cuts could weaken U.S. influence abroad and damage diplomatic relations.
What’s Next?
This ruling marks the latest legal setback for Musk and DOGE, which has already faced judicial pushback over mass firings of government workers. Another federal judge recently ordered the reinstatement of thousands of dismissed federal employees across multiple agencies.
While the ruling effectively halts USAID’s shutdown for now, the legal battle is far from over. The Biden campaign and congressional leaders have signaled plans to challenge Trump’s executive order further, while Musk’s legal team is expected to appeal the decision.
With USAID playing a crucial role in global humanitarian efforts, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for U.S. foreign policy and the future of federal agency restructuring.
