The Supreme Court has ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Trump administration must release $2 billion in congressionally authorized payments owed to U.S. businesses and nonprofit organizations for work completed for USAID. This ruling addresses the "freeze" initiated by the Trump administration, which had resulted in negative impacts on various businesses and nonprofits, including program closures and employee furloughs.
The executive order from President Trump had issued a blanket suspension of funds without Congressional notice, an action challenged in the case Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition. The court's decision emphasizes Congress's constitutional control over federal funding.
Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, commented on the ruling: “President Trump’s attempt to halt foreign aid funding was a reckless, cruel, and unprecedented abuse of executive power." He further noted that "the lower court rightly held that President Trump exceeded his authority when he unilaterally declared he was freezing funding for programs Congress had already authorized."
Romero highlighted the importance of this decision as it pertains to checks and balances within government: “We’re pleased to see the Supreme Court uphold the Constitution and act as an essential check on the executive branch in this case brought by Public Citizen.”
He also criticized the administration's delay in complying with previous court orders: “The Trump administration dragged its feet in complying with the district court’s orders and had to be hauled back to answer to that court twice before it filed an appeal." Romero emphasized that compliance with this order is critical for upholding constitutional duties.
