The U.S. District Court in Washington has ordered the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to reverse a three-week funding freeze that halted U.S. aid and development programs around the world. About this informs AP agency.
This is the first court verdict directed against the sudden and absolute termination of USAID funding abroad, as claimed by humanitarian organizations.
Judge Amir Ali issued the temporary order in response to a lawsuit by two organizations, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Global Health Council, which represent the interests of recipients of US grants for international medical projects.
The judge pointed to the severe harm suffered by nonprofits and other agencies that provide US aid abroad as a result of the sudden cut in funding. In the decision, Ali emphasized that the Trump administration explained the funding freeze by the need to review thousands of USAID aid programs abroad and determine their feasibility.
However, the judge noted that the administration failed to justify why a complete halt to all foreign aid approved by Congress, which has caused a wave of uncertainty, was a necessary condition for such a review.
Ali noted that the administration’s lawyers did not provide evidence that would testify to the rationality of their decision, and did not explain how it was planned to take into account the interests of thousands of non-profit organizations and enterprises that could lose funding.
The court order also bars Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other Trump administration officials from following orders to freeze funding.
The judge rejected the administration’s argument that its decision to freeze funds was tempered by exemptions that allow some USAID partners to continue receiving funding. He testified that such a system of exceptions is not in place, and the online payment system at USAID no longer functions.
