Judge declares Trump administration has failed to comply with order to stop freezing foreign aid

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration has not fully complied with a court order pausing the freezing of foreign assistance grants and contracts, stating that the blanket suspension of aid has caused irreparable harm to federal contractors. The administration had claimed that most contract terminations were allowed, but the judge suggested they were searching for post-hoc rationalizations to justify the pause. The judge ordered the administration to immediately cease the suspension of aid and criticized them for not offering evidence to rebut claims of irreparable harm. While the administration has not been held in contempt, the judge is prepared to consider arguments and evidence at the preliminary injunction stage. The order to pause foreign assistance was signed by Trump on his second inauguration day, directing a 90-day halt in funding for foreign development assistance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later ordered an immediate stop to most foreign aid funded through the State Department and USAID. This is not the first time in Trump’s second term that a judge has found his administration in violation of a court order; earlier this month, a judge ruled they had violated an order halting a broad federal funding freeze. The memo enacting that pause was rescinded in late January.

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