The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to delay releasing nearly $2 billion in foreign aid, upholding a lower court’s order; at least for now.
In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s order stands, but asked him to clarify the deadline for distributing the funds. This means the money must still be released, but the administration could get more time to comply depending on what the judge decides next.
The dispute started when the Trump administration froze billions in foreign aid, canceling thousands of government contracts and grants. The freeze affected projects funded by USAID and the State Department, totaling nearly $60 billion in aid cuts.
However, some of that aid was for work that had already been completed. Judge Ali ruled on February 13 that the government must pay for the work already done, temporarily pausing the spending freeze. But when the administration didn’t release the funds, Ali imposed a strict deadline.
The Trump administration pushed back, calling the order “incredibly intrusive and profoundly erroneous,” arguing that the judge overstepped his authority. The case quickly reached the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court’s ruling means that:
- The Trump administration must follow the judge’s order to release the aid.
- However, the judge must clarify the deadline and consider if the administration needs more time.
- The administration did not challenge the order itself—only the deadline.
Justice Samuel Alito and three other conservative justices dissented, saying Ali had no power to issue the order. Alito called the ruling “an act of judicial hubris.”
Judge Ali is holding a hearing Thursday to determine a more permanent ruling and whether any adjustments to the deadline should be made. In the meantime, the Trump administration may still try to delay payments through further legal challenges.
For now, though, the court has spoken; the aid must be paid, and the government must comply with the ruling. The only question left is when.
