Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has halted a controversial $2 billion foreign aid payout, delivering the Trump administration its first legal victory before the high court.
At a Glance
- Chief Justice Roberts paused a lower court order requiring the Trump administration to pay out approximately $2 billion in foreign aid
- The administration argued the payment order violated presidential authority under Article II to manage federal finances
- The pause comes as the Trump administration plans to cut over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts
- A Biden-appointed district judge had previously ordered the administration to resume payments
- All parties must provide explanations by Friday regarding whether funding should continue
Supreme Court Steps In to Halt Massive Foreign Aid Payment
In a significant legal development, Chief Justice John Roberts granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily pause a lower court order that would have forced the immediate payment of approximately $2 billion in foreign aid. The lower court ruling, issued by Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, had temporarily blocked the administration’s freeze on foreign spending and directed officials to resume payments that were halted as part of President Trump’s broader effort to reduce foreign aid expenditures.
The Supreme Court’s intervention requires parties involved to provide explanations regarding whether the funding should continue. This represents the first instance of the high court granting relief to the Trump administration in what appears to be a developing pattern of legal challenges to the President’s policy initiatives. The administration has sought to significantly reduce foreign aid spending, announcing plans to cut over 90% of USAID’s foreign contracts and approximately $60 billion in U.S. assistance globally.
MORE: ➡️ On February 26, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court, through an order signed by Chief Justice John Roberts, temporarily halted a lower court’s mandate that required the Trump Administration to release billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid by a midnight deadline.
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Administration Defends Presidential Authority
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued forcefully against the lower court’s directive, stating it had “thrown what should be an orderly review by the government into chaos.” In filings to the Supreme Court, Harris emphasized that the lower court order interfered with the president’s constitutional duties to manage the federal budget and make determinations about foreign aid allocations. The administration’s position centers on presidential powers outlined in Article II of the Constitution.
The administration contends Judge Ali’s ruling creates irreparable harm by forcing immediate disbursement of funds without proper review. Harris specifically noted the lower court’s order “appears to contemplate the immediate outlay of nearly $2 billion,” an amount the administration argues would disrupt its efforts to reform what it characterizes as wasteful spending practices.
Shift in Foreign Aid Policy
The legal battle reflects a fundamental shift in American foreign policy under President Trump. For decades, U.S. foreign assistance has been viewed as advancing American interests abroad, but the current administration has taken a more critical stance. President Trump and allies, including Elon Musk, have questioned the value of many foreign aid programs, characterizing them as wasteful and often promoting agendas that don’t serve American priorities.
Officials have emphasized their intention is “to use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests.” Advocates for the cuts argue that foreign aid has grown unchecked for generations without sufficient oversight regarding effectiveness or return on investment. Critics of the reductions warn of potential diplomatic consequences and humanitarian concerns resulting from abrupt funding suspensions to ongoing programs worldwide.
