A federal judge has stepped in to block billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ruling that his role in the process likely violated the Constitution.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ordered the Trump administration to restore email and computer access to all USAID employees, including those who had been placed on administrative leave. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by attorneys representing USAID employees and contractors, who argued that Musk had overstepped his authority.
The lawsuit specifically named Musk, claiming he was making decisions that should be reserved for elected officials or those confirmed by the Senate. Judge Chuang’s order directly prevents Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from making further cuts to USAID, stating that the evidence suggests he had a direct hand in shutting down the agency’s headquarters and website. Despite the administration’s claims that Musk was merely acting as an advisor, his public statements and social media posts reportedly show that he had “firm control” over DOGE.
The ruling comes after the Trump administration put nearly all of USAID’s global staff on leave in February and notified around 1,600 U.S.-based employees of their termination. The move was part of a larger effort to scale back foreign aid and humanitarian programs, effectively dismantling the six-decade-old agency.
Judge Chuang noted that USAID may no longer be able to perform many of its legally mandated duties, further supporting claims that the agency has been effectively eliminated. With the judge’s decision, however, the administration is now required to restore access for affected employees, signaling a potential reversal of the agency’s shutdown.
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