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| Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to withhold $2bn in foreign aid | Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to withhold $2bn in foreign aid |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Supporters gather with signs to 'clap out' USAID employees as they clean out their desks at the agency's former offices in Washington, DC | |
| The US Supreme Court has rejected a request by the Trump administration to withhold nearly $2bn (£1.6bn) in payments to foreign aid organisations for work they have already performed for the government. | The US Supreme Court has rejected a request by the Trump administration to withhold nearly $2bn (£1.6bn) in payments to foreign aid organisations for work they have already performed for the government. |
| On Wednesday, the top court upheld a lower court ruling ordering the administration to release the funds to contractors and grant recipients of the US Agency for International Development and the State Department. | On Wednesday, the top court upheld a lower court ruling ordering the administration to release the funds to contractors and grant recipients of the US Agency for International Development and the State Department. |
| Since taking office, President Donald Trump has cut numerous aid programmes and placed most USAID staff on leave or dismissed them. | Since taking office, President Donald Trump has cut numerous aid programmes and placed most USAID staff on leave or dismissed them. |
| Aid agencies argue these actions have jeopardised life-saving operations worldwide. | Aid agencies argue these actions have jeopardised life-saving operations worldwide. |
| Last month District Judge Amir Ali had ordered the State Department and USAID to pay the bills to contractors for the work already done by midnight on 26 February. | Last month District Judge Amir Ali had ordered the State Department and USAID to pay the bills to contractors for the work already done by midnight on 26 February. |
| As the deadline approached, the Trump administration sought an emergency relief from the Supreme Court, arguing it was impossible to process claims in an orderly fashion in such a short period of time. | As the deadline approached, the Trump administration sought an emergency relief from the Supreme Court, arguing it was impossible to process claims in an orderly fashion in such a short period of time. |
| Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a brief administrative stay, before the full court acted on President Trump's request. | Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a brief administrative stay, before the full court acted on President Trump's request. |
| On Wednesday, the top court in a narrow 5-4 decision declined to halt the lower court order that required the Trump administration to release the payment. | On Wednesday, the top court in a narrow 5-4 decision declined to halt the lower court order that required the Trump administration to release the payment. |
| What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'? | What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'? |
| Most USAID staff laid off or placed on leave by Trump administration | Most USAID staff laid off or placed on leave by Trump administration |
| The court said that Judge Ali's deadline for the immediate payment had now passed, and the district court should "clarify what obligations" the administration must fulfil to comply the order. | The court said that Judge Ali's deadline for the immediate payment had now passed, and the district court should "clarify what obligations" the administration must fulfil to comply the order. |
| Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented with the order. | Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented with the order. |
| "Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars?" Justice Alito wrote in a dissent joined by the three other conservative justices. "The answer to that question should be an emphatic 'No,' but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned." | "Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars?" Justice Alito wrote in a dissent joined by the three other conservative justices. "The answer to that question should be an emphatic 'No,' but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned." |
| The case began when two aid groups challenged Trump's 90-day freeze on foreign assistance. Judge Ali initially paused the cuts while reviewing the case, later ordering payment for completed work after the government failed to comply. | The case began when two aid groups challenged Trump's 90-day freeze on foreign assistance. Judge Ali initially paused the cuts while reviewing the case, later ordering payment for completed work after the government failed to comply. |
| Legal proceedings continue, with a district court hearing set for Thursday on contractors' requests for extended relief. | Legal proceedings continue, with a district court hearing set for Thursday on contractors' requests for extended relief. |
| The Trump administration, led by billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting initiative, aims to shrink the federal workforce. | The Trump administration, led by billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting initiative, aims to shrink the federal workforce. |
| USAID cutbacks have already disrupted global aid efforts, freezing hundreds of programmes in dozens of countries. | USAID cutbacks have already disrupted global aid efforts, freezing hundreds of programmes in dozens of countries. |
| The US, by far the world's largest humanitarian aid provider, operates in over 60 countries, largely through contractors. | The US, by far the world's largest humanitarian aid provider, operates in over 60 countries, largely through contractors. |