The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump must unfreeze $1.9 billion in foreign USAID payments, overturning his administration’s previous attempt to block the funds.
The ruling, which came down in a narrow decision, has sparked fierce debate among the justices, with Justice Samuel Alito issuing a scathing dissent.
The majority opinion, which was not immediately published in full, sided against Trump’s efforts to withhold the aid, arguing that the funds had been lawfully appropriated by Congress and must be disbursed.
However, the court’s conservative wing strongly opposed the decision, with Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joining Alito in dissent.
“Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars?” Alitow said.
ALSO READ: Easy & Delicious: A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Pizza at Home
“The answer to that question should be an emphatic ‘No,’ but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned.”
The ruling is expected to have major implications for executive power, congressional control over foreign aid, and judicial oversight of government spending.
Trump, who had previously defended the freeze as a necessary measure to review how taxpayer funds were being used overseas, has not yet issued a public response.
The decision could also impact ongoing legal battles over executive authority and foreign aid allocations, particularly as the U.S. navigates international diplomatic commitments.
This is a developing story. More updates to follow.
