The US Supreme Court dealt a blow to President Donald Trump's foreign-aid freeze, reinstating a lower court order that requires the quick disbursement of as much as $2 billion owed to contractors for already completed work.
Over four dissents, the justices rejected Trump's request to toss out the trial court order, which affects money owed by the US Agency for International Development and State Department. In its one-paragraph order, the majority told the judge to reset the timeline for paying the money since his original deadline has now passed.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberals in the majority. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. Alito wrote for the group that he was “stunned” by the decision.
Humanitarian groups say the money is urgently needed. They say the freeze is upending hundreds of projects, forcing USAID partner groups to lay off or furlough thousands of US workers and putting people who depend on the assistance at risk of disease and death.
In an order last week, US District Judge Amir Ali gave the administration 36 hours to pay for work performed before Feb. 13. Ali issued that directive after aid groups offered evidence the administration wasn't complying with his earlier order to lift the payment freeze.
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