Washington District Judge Carl Nichols has temporarily allowed about 2,700 employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), who were previously placed on leave by President Donald Trump, to return to work. About this informs Reuters.
Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee during his first term, partially settled a lawsuit by the largest U.S. civil servants union and the Foreign Service Association, which sought to block the president’s initiative to close USAID.
According to his decision, the implementation of some aspects of the liquidation of the agency is suspended until February 14. This allows the return to work of 2,200 workers who were previously sent on vacation, as well as approximately 500 people who were dismissed. At the same time, the document prohibits the White House administration from moving USAID humanitarian workers who are outside the US.
A judge will consider whether to extend the agency’s liquidation block at a hearing on February 12. In his ruling, he noted that the unions «will convincingly demonstrate irreparable harm» if the court does not intervene. At the same time, he rejected demands to reopen USAID buildings and restore funding for the agency’s grants and contracts.
It will be recalled that on the first day of his administration, President Trump decided to temporarily freeze all US foreign aid programs for 90 days for inspections.
