Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary halt on a court-imposed deadline that required the Trump administration to release $2 billion in frozen foreign aid. This decision marks a significant moment as President Donald Trump's initiatives to overhaul the federal government, including deep budget cuts, reach the Supreme Court for the first time.
The case highlights a potential clash between the justices and Trump's broad efforts to centralize power within the executive branch. Roberts' order instituted an "administrative stay," allowing the court time to assess the written arguments presented in the case. As the justice responsible for emergency cases from the federal appeals court in Washington, DC, Roberts instructed the groups suing the administration to respond by Friday.
The Trump administration urgently petitioned the Supreme Court late Wednesday, just hours before the midnight deadline, requesting immediate intervention. This marks the second instance of Trump seeking the high court's involvement since his inauguration last month. Another ongoing case concerns Trump's dismissal of the leadership at the Office of Special Counsel.
The appeal centers on billions of dollars in foreign aid from the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development, which Trump froze in January to align federal spending with his policy objectives. US District Judge Amir Ali, appointed by President Joe Biden, had temporarily ordered the funds to be released while the case was under consideration. Ali further demanded the payment be made by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET for all aid completed by his order's issuance.
The Trump administration argued that it would require "multiple weeks" to comply with the judge's directive. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris, serving as the administration's top appellate attorney, stated that the "district court’s imminent and arbitrary deadline makes full compliance impossible."
In a notable aspect of the appeal, the administration emphasized its commitment to its constitutional duty to comply with federal court orders. This language reflects the backlash faced by Trump and his allies for considering defiance of court orders or the impeachment of dissenting judges. Harris noted that the government is making significant efforts to review and release payment requests.
The groups suing the administration challenged these explanations, suggesting that a few political appointees are obstructing the authorization of payments. The government might encounter challenges when the court reviews the request more thoroughly. The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit had previously ruled that the enforcement order was not originally appealable, complicating the administration's position.
Steve Vladeck, a CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, commented that Roberts' decision is not indicative of the court's ultimate stance on Trump's foreign aid freeze. "It’s really just a play for time – in this case, perhaps as little as two days – to give the justices time to sort out whether or not they should pause Judge Ali’s ruling or force the government to turn the challenged foreign aid funding back on while the litigation challenging its suspension continues," Vladeck explained.
