U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali has mandated that the government resume payments to contractors working in impoverished regions worldwide. The decision comes amidst an ongoing legal battle that had largely halted their funding. Judge Ali has set a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday for the administration to meet its contractual obligations and restart these crucial payments.
The administration is also required to provide documentation of communications sent to ground partners regarding the resumption of assistance. This order applies specifically to work completed before February 13.
Aid groups involved in the lawsuit presented evidence indicating that the government had not lifted its suspension of funding. Judge Ali noted that the defendants did not counter this evidence during the Tuesday hearing. The administration subsequently filed a notice of appeal late Tuesday afternoon, but a spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation outside the courtroom.
During a tense 90-minute hearing, Justice Department lawyer Indraneel Sur was unable to confirm whether the Trump administration had taken necessary steps to restart aid assistance. Sur promised to provide more details in a status report due by noon Wednesday. Judge Ali expressed frustration, stating, "I don’t know why I can’t get a straight answer from you."
The exact amount owed to organizations by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) remains unclear. However, DAI Global LLC claims it is owed over $115 million, and the U.N. World Food Program, the largest food aid distributor, confirms debts exceeding $820 million.
The delays have severely impacted some of the world's poorest and sickest communities. In famine-stricken areas, such as Sudan, people are left without food, and individuals with HIV have lost access to lifesaving medicines.
Partner organizations filed an emergency request on Monday, citing threats to worker safety and potential eviction due to the administration's defiance of Ali’s court order. Stephen K. Wirth, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, argued that the government has failed to facilitate the flow of payments.
Despite a State Department waiver allowing certain lifesaving aid to continue, plaintiffs claim the payment system remains inoperative, with employees encountering error messages when submitting invoices. Many organizations have yet to receive payment for expenses incurred in late 2024, before Trump resumed office.
Attorney Lauren Bateman warned that non-compliance with Ali’s directive could lead to "uncharted and dangerous territory." This case is one among several where legal experts believe the administration has approached the threshold of disobeying judicial orders, as Trump and his allies assert extensive presidential powers.
Recent events have resulted in the loss of thousands of federal jobs, contributing to the chaos. On Sunday, the administration announced plans to eliminate 1,600 jobs at USAID, with most remaining employees placed on leave following a separate federal judge's ruling.
Aid advocates accuse the Trump administration of seeking to dismantle USAID, the primary U.S. agency for foreign assistance, which delivers $40 billion in aid annually. President Trump and adviser Elon Musk have disparaged the work of diplomats, with Trump labeling them as “radical lunatics” and Musk asserting that USAID should "die."
