The legal battle over control of the U.S. foreign aid budget took a significant turn this Wednesday. Donald Trump’s strategy of centralizing and redirecting foreign policy resources stems from the suspension of the injunction that forced the government to resume payments already approved by Congress. This case highlights how court decisions can redefine and influence the scope of presidential authority and reignite debates about the limits of executive power.
Court’s preliminary injunction is revoked, favoring Trump’s blockade of foreign aid
A federal appeals court on Wednesday lifted an injunction that required the U.S. State Department to continue making foreign aid payments, handing a victory to President Donald Trump. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said a lower court erred by ordering the Trump administration to restore foreign assistance payments previously approved by Congress.
Trump imposed a 90-day pause on all foreign aid on January 20, the same day he was inaugurated for a second term in the White House. His executive order was followed by aggressive moves to gut USAID, the main U.S. foreign aid agency, including by placing much of its staff on leave and exploring bringing the formerly independent agency under the State Department. Two non-profit groups that receive federal funding, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Journalism Development Network, brought litigation alleging Trump’s funding freeze was unlawful.
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, ordered the Trump administration to pay nearly $2 billion in outstanding aid to its humanitarian partners worldwide. Writing for the two-judge majority, Circuit Judge Karen Henderson said the non-profit groups “lack a cause of action to press their claims” and therefore failed to satisfy the requirements for an injunction.
Impacts and questions about the court decision
This decision could set a long-lasting precedent for the president’s actions to halt or redirect funds already approved by the Legislature. The constitutionality of Trump’s action was spared a direct ruling, and thus, the court may have left room for similar disputes to arise in the future, especially in contexts of foreign policy and interests. While this impasse drags on, thousands of international projects remain stalled.
Henderson, who was appointed to the appeals court by President George H.W. Bush, said the court was not addressing the question of whether Trump’s foreign aid freeze violated the U.S. Constitution by infringing on the spending power of Congress. Henderson’s opinion was joined by Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee.
Tensions over the limits of presidential power
Circuit Judge Florence Pan, a Biden appointee, wrote in a dissenting opinion that her colleagues were allowing the Trump administration to disregard federal law and the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.
“The court’s acquiescence in and facilitation of the Executive’s unlawful behavior derails the carefully crafted system of checked and balanced power that serves as the greatest security against tyranny – the accumulation of excessive authority in a single Branch,” Pan wrote.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday praised the ruling, saying the Justice Department “will continue to successfully protect core Presidential authorities from judicial overreach.”
The effects that political relations have had on American foreign policy
Trump’s allies supported the president’s policy decision and saw it as a reinforcement of the executive branch’s authority in conducting foreign policy. Opponents in Congress, however, vowed to seek legislative alternatives to ensure that funding for humanitarian programs cannot be unilaterally blocked.
This power struggle could influence negotiations with allied countries, as some depend on US aid, but the case could redefine the relationship between Congress and the White House in the management of international resources. Meanwhile, new actions are being prepared by affected groups, and the feeling is that uncertainty remains about when foreign aid will be fully restored.
GCN.com/Reuters