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Judge pauses Trump plan to put thousands of USAID staff on leave Judge pauses Trump plan to put thousands of USAID staff on leave
(about 1 hour later)
A federal court is issuing a "very limited" temporary order to halt President Donald Trump's plan to gut the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). A judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's plan to place 2,200 employees of the US Agency for International Development on paid leave, hours before it was due to happen.
The judge issued a restraining order that would block 2,200 employees from being put on administrative leave as was scheduled by midnight Friday. USAID employs about 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom work overseas. Judge Carl Nichols said he would issue a "very limited" temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed by unions, challenging the plan to place thousands of staff on leave from midnight on Friday.
Attorneys for employees of the agency, which is the US government's main overseas development organisation, filed an emergency petition aiming to halt the plan to place the vast majority of its workforce on leave. USAID, which is the US government's main overseas development arm, employs about 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom work overseas. It's unclear where the remaining staff stand regarding their jobs.
Some 611 employees would have been kept working under the plan by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The ruling came as officials removed and covered USAID signs at the organisation's headquarters in Washington DC. Under the plan by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, some 611 employees would have been kept working at the agency.
Trump has singled out the agency as he is a long-term critic of overseas spending, arguing that USAID is not a valuable use of taxpayer money. Trump has argued that USAID is not a valuable use of taxpayer money. It is one of many federal agencies the Trump administration is targeting as it works to slash federal spending in the US.
It is one of many federal agencies the Trump administration is targeting as it works to slash federal spending in the US. The Republican campaigned on overhauling the government and formed an advisory body named the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - led by Musk - to slash the budget.
Trump campaigned on overhauling the government and formed an advisory body named the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - led by Musk - to slash the budget. Friday's ruling by Judge Nichols came in response to an emergency petition by the American Foreign Service Association and American Federation of Government Employees - two unions representing employees of the agency.
Friday's order by US District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington DC came after a lawsuit was filed by American Foreign Service Association and American Federation of Government Employees - two unions representing employees of the agency.
Judge Nichols, who was nominated by Trump during his first term, said the written order would be issued later.
The lawsuit argued that the president was violating the US Constitution and federal law by attempting to dismantle the agency. "Not a single one of defendants' actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization," it said.
"And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency."
What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'?What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'?
How a US freeze upended global aid in a matter of daysHow a US freeze upended global aid in a matter of days
USAID could slash staff to hundreds after placing most on leaveUSAID could slash staff to hundreds after placing most on leave
On Thursday, the Trump administration sent notice to employees at USAID that it planned to keep on 611 essential employees. Judge Nichols, who was nominated by Trump during his first term, said the written order would be issued later and go into more detail.
During the hearing, he did not seem likely to grant other requests from the unions as part of the lawsuit to restore grants and contracts or reopen USAID buildings.
The legal action argued that the president was violating the US Constitution and federal law by attempting to dismantle the agency.
"Not a single one of defendants' actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization," it said.
"And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency."
On Thursday, the Trump administration sent notice to employees at USAID that it planned to keep on 611 essential employees. About 500 had already been placed on leave.
A justice department official, Brett Shumate, told the judge that Trump "has decided there is corruption and fraud at USAID".A justice department official, Brett Shumate, told the judge that Trump "has decided there is corruption and fraud at USAID".
Also on Friday, officials removed and covered USAID signs at the organisation's headquarters in Washington DC.
Some left signs and flowers near the covered logos - one with a RIP USAID gravestone. Its office in the US capital has been closed all week.
Hours after Trump took office on 20 January, he signed an executive order halting all foreign assistance until such funds were vetted and aligned with his "America First" policy.Hours after Trump took office on 20 January, he signed an executive order halting all foreign assistance until such funds were vetted and aligned with his "America First" policy.
That led to a stop work order at USAID, which has in turn upended the global aid system as hundreds of programmes have been frozen in countries around the world.That led to a stop work order at USAID, which has in turn upended the global aid system as hundreds of programmes have been frozen in countries around the world.
On Friday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY.On Friday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY.
"THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!""THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!"
The US is by far the biggest single provider of humanitarian aid around the world. It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others, with much of its work carried out by its contractors.The US is by far the biggest single provider of humanitarian aid around the world. It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others, with much of its work carried out by its contractors.
According to government data, the US spent $68bn (£55bn) on international aid in 2023.According to government data, the US spent $68bn (£55bn) on international aid in 2023.
That total is spread across several departments and agencies, but USAID's budget constitutes more than half of it at around $40bn - that's about 0.6% of total US annual government spending of $6.75tn.That total is spread across several departments and agencies, but USAID's budget constitutes more than half of it at around $40bn - that's about 0.6% of total US annual government spending of $6.75tn.
Former USAID chiefs have criticised the reported cutback plan. One of them, Gayle Smith, stressed to the BBC that the US had always been the fastest to arrive during humanitarian crises around the world.Former USAID chiefs have criticised the reported cutback plan. One of them, Gayle Smith, stressed to the BBC that the US had always been the fastest to arrive during humanitarian crises around the world.
"When you pull all of that out, you send some very dangerous messages," Smith said. "The US is signalling that we don't frankly care whether people live or die and that we're not a reliable partner.""When you pull all of that out, you send some very dangerous messages," Smith said. "The US is signalling that we don't frankly care whether people live or die and that we're not a reliable partner."
Also on Friday, Trump fired the leadership of the Kennedy Center, a cultural and preforming arts centre in Washington.
He said in a post on social media that he wanted to become the chairman of the board that oversees the centre.