Judge orders Trump administration to pay bills from foreign aid contractors, comply with earlier ruling
SUMMARY
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, appointed by President Biden, ordered the Trump administration to comply with his February 13 temporary restraining order and pay foreign aid contractors for work done before that date by midnight Wednesday. The ruling stems from a lawsuit by businesses and nonprofits claiming they’re owed millions after Trump’s executive action—and a January 24 cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio—froze foreign assistance funds for 90 days. Ali’s initial order paused the freeze, but at an emergency hearing, Justice Department lawyers couldn’t detail efforts to restore funding, prompting Ali to ask, “Twelve days in, and no facts?” The judge also demanded internal State Department and USAID directives showing compliance. DAI Global, one plaintiff, said it’s awaiting $115 million, with $70 million overdue, and has furloughed 124 U.S. staffers despite some stop-work orders lifting—though 28 project terminations stand.
