A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to place 2,200 employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, issued a temporary restraining order late Friday that prevents this planned action by Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency. The order mandates the reinstatement of 500 USAID workers already on leave and ensures that no USAID employees are evacuated from host countries before February 14, 11:59 p.m.
This decision came after a Friday afternoon hearing, where Judge Nichols indicated his intention to issue the order. Two foreign service unions filed a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the Trump administration's effort to cut USAID's workforce from 14,000 to a scant 300 employees, a plan aimed at reducing government spending.
Judge Nichols noted that the order serves to prevent the rapid removal of USAID staff from their international posts. "This is about how employees are harmed in their capacity as employees," Nichols emphasized during the hearing, clarifying the irreparable harm posed to the employee/employer relationship.
During the proceedings, attorneys from the Department of Justice acknowledged the move to place additional 2,000 employees on leave by midnight, alongside the 500 already furloughed. Acting assistant attorney Brett Shumate argued that the layoffs were necessary, citing President Trump's concerns about corruption and fraud within USAID, which he believes threaten the proper use of taxpayer funds.
The American Foreign Service Organization and the American Federation of Government Employees are the two unions behind the lawsuit, arguing that Trump's actions are unconstitutional and illegal. They allege that the President's initiative to dismantle USAID lacks congressional authorization and has already harmed many employees.
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs argued that families face disruption, with children being pulled from school and individuals cut off from healthcare, while being forced to return to the U.S. under dire circumstances. This upheaval is said to have triggered a global humanitarian crisis, jeopardizing U.S. national security interests and causing widespread job losses.
The lawsuit contends that Trump has methodically attempted to downsize the agency since his first day in office, starting with an executive order to freeze foreign aid. Soon after, USAID was targeted, and orders to halt work were issued, affecting grantees and contractors. These actions reportedly led to the abrupt cessation of vital services such as medical clinics and soup kitchens worldwide.
The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Government Efficiency, with Elon Musk's involvement, finalized the attempt to "gut" the agency by restricting employee access to necessary resources, all without congressional approval.
The plaintiffs seek a judicial declaration of Trump’s actions as unlawful and want an injunction stopping the administration from shutting down USAID operations without Congress’s consent.
