A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restart payments worth hundreds of millions of dollars for USAID projects worldwide.
U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali set a deadline for compliance by the end of Wednesday, but government officials have yet to confirm whether payments have resumed.
The administration has appealed the ruling, arguing it has the right to review grants before disbursing funds. However, critics accuse officials of defying the court order, harming aid organizations that have been forced to cut staff and suspend projects.
The judge has stopped short of holding the administration in contempt, despite frustration over the lack of compliance. Advocacy groups, including Oxfam America, warn that withholding these funds jeopardizes the lives of vulnerable populations worldwide.
USAID, which spent over $40 billion across 130 countries in 2023, was among the first agencies targeted under Trump’s executive order pausing foreign aid.
The administration justified the cuts as part of a broader review aligned with its “America First” agenda, though critics argue it undermines U.S. influence and humanitarian efforts.
