US judge weighs blocking Trump from dismantling USAID
USA-TRUMP-USAID-LAWSUIT:US judge weighs blocking Trump from dismantling USAID
By Andrew Goudsward, Nate Raymond and Daphne Psaledakis
WASHINGTON -A U.S. judge is weighing whether to temporarily block the Trump administration from dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and carrying out plans to put thousands of its workers globally on administrative leave at midnight.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington on Friday held a hearing in a lawsuit filed on Thursday by the largest U.S. government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers.
The lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association seeks an order blocking what it says are "unconstitutional and illegal actions" that have created a "global humanitarian crisis."
Those actions include President Donald Trump's order on January 20, the day he was inaugurated, pausing all U.S. foreign aid. Following Trump's order, the State Department halted USAID projects around the world, agency computer systems went offline and staff were abruptly laid off or placed on leave.
"The major reduction in force, as well as the closure of offices, the forced relocation of these individuals were all done in excess of the executive’s authority in violation of the separation of powers," Karla Gilbride, a lawyer for the unions, said at the hearing.
A Justice Department official, Brett Shumate, told a federal judge that about 2,200 USAID employees would be put on paid leave under the administration's plans.
The administration in a notice sent to the foreign aid agency's workers on Thursday said it will keep 611 essential workers on board at USAID out of a worldwide workforce that totals more than 10,000.
Trump in a post on Truth Social on Friday accused USAID - without evidence - of spending money fraudulently and of corruption.
He said: "USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE WAY IN WHICH THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, SO MUCH OF IT FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!"
Chaos has consumed the agency, which distributes billions of dollars of humanitarian aid around the world, since Trump ordered a freeze on most U.S. foreign aid hours after taking office, saying he wanted to ensure it is aligned with his "America First" policy.
Hundreds of USAID programs covering billions of dollars worth of lifesaving aid across the globe came to a grinding halt when the State Department issued worldwide stop-work directives after Trump's freeze order, with the exception of emergency food assistance. Experts warned that the move risks killing people.
Since then, dozens of USAID career staff have been put on leave and hundreds of contractors have been left in a severe financial crunch with some having to lay off staff and facing millions of dollars in unpaid invoices.
The gutting of the agency has largely been overseen by businessman Elon Musk, the world's richest man and a close Trump ally spearheading the president's effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.