Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has temporarily halted a court order that would force the Trump administration to disburse $2 billion in foreign aid, marking a significant victory for the administration’s efforts to curtail international spending.
Top Takeaways
- Chief Justice Roberts paused a lower court order requiring $2 billion in foreign aid payments, giving the Trump administration a temporary reprieve
- The administration argues that the lower court’s order conflicts with the President’s Article II powers to manage the federal budget and make foreign aid decisions
- This represents the first time the Supreme Court has granted relief to the Trump administration
- The pause comes amid a broader administration initiative to cut over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in global assistance
Supreme Court Steps In to Pause Foreign Aid Payments
In a significant legal development, Chief Justice John Roberts has granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily halt a lower court order that would have required the immediate disbursement of approximately $2 billion in foreign aid. The decision came Wednesday after the administration sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court, claiming it couldn’t comply with a directive from U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, a Biden appointee. Judge Ali had previously ordered the administration to unfreeze foreign spending and resume payments that had been halted as part of a broader review of international assistance programs.
The administration argued forcefully against the lower court’s mandate, with Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris stating that the order had “thrown what should be an orderly review by the government into chaos.” Harris outlined the administration’s position that Judge Ali’s directive conflicted with presidential authorities and would cause irreparable harm to the government’s financial management processes. Roberts has instructed all parties involved to provide explanations by Friday at noon regarding whether the funding pause should continue.
BREAKING 🚨 The Supreme Court just sided with Donald Trump BLOCKING the lower court’s order Forcing Trump to give aid to foreign countries
THIS IS A MASSIVE WIN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qzQpcos5tX
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) February 27, 2025
Constitutional Questions at the Center of Dispute
The legal battle centers on fundamental questions about presidential authority and the separation of powers. In their emergency application to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration characterized the lower court’s order as “an untenable payment plan at odds with the President’s obligations under Article II to protect the integrity of the federal fisc and make appropriate judgements about foreign aid – clear forms of irreparable harm.”
This case marks the first instance of the Supreme Court granting relief to the Trump administration in a legal challenge. The stakes are particularly high as the administration has announced plans to dramatically reduce foreign assistance, cutting over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and potentially trimming $60 billion in U.S. assistance globally. These actions represent a significant departure from longstanding U.S. policy that has traditionally viewed foreign aid as beneficial for American interests and global stability.
Administration’s Foreign Aid Reform Initiative
The Trump administration has framed its foreign aid cuts as necessary reforms targeting what it describes as wasteful spending. According to a memo cited in reports, the administration is focused on “clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift” and aims “to use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests.” This approach aligns with criticism from President Trump and allies like Elon Musk, who have questioned the effectiveness and focus of traditional foreign aid programs.
The broader context of this legal battle includes other challenges to the administration’s policies. Notably, in a separate case, the Supreme Court has not yet acted on a request to block an order reinstating Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel after being fired by Trump. The administration has filed an emergency appeal in that case as well, suggesting a pattern of using Supreme Court interventions to maintain policy initiatives while lower court challenges play out.
