On Friday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling from a Biden-appointed judge, directly impacting President Trump’s administration. The court decided that the president cannot unilaterally cut billions in foreign aid, reinforcing an earlier decision made by US District Judge Amir Ali. Trump quickly appealed Ali’s ruling, asserting his executive authority to ensure that foreign aid aligns with his America First policies.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly commented on the situation, stating, “President Trump has the executive authority to ensure that all foreign aid is accountable to taxpayers and aligns with the America First priorities people voted for.” Despite this, the three-judge panel, with a 2-1 majority, sided against Trump. The judges included two appointees from the previous administration and one dissenting judge who was appointed by Trump.
The court’s decision comes just days after Judge Ali mandated the administration to spend approximately $11 billion on foreign aid projects. This spending must occur before Congress’s authorization for the aid expires in September. Earlier this year, Judge Ali temporarily blocked Trump’s attempts to cancel existing foreign aid contracts, stating that halting these funds would cause “enormous harm.” Consequently, Ali ordered the restoration of funding for foreign aid contractors after Trump had frozen the aid for 90 days.
In the wake of Trump’s executive order, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued temporary guidance, pausing spending on the majority of foreign aid for three months. The appeals court’s ruling underscores the ongoing challenges the Trump administration faces in its efforts to manage foreign aid and funding.
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