A sharply divided Supreme Court on Wednesday reinstated a lower-court order for the President Donald Trump administration to release frozen foreign aid.
The federal government froze foreign aid after an executive order from Trump targeted what he called wasteful programs that do not correspond to his foreign policy goals.
A lawsuit followed, claiming the pause broke federal law and has shut down funding for even the most urgent life-saving programs abroad.
And MAGA was having none of the court’s ruling, lashing out at a conservative justice Trump appointee, Amy Coney Barrett:
“This isn’t a job for the weak. She’s not who we thought she was. An absolute lightweight who doesn’t have the strength needed for the Supreme Court and to make sure the US constitution is followed. Very disappointing ruling tonight. What’s your thoughts on Amy Coney Barrett?” X handle @KashPatel_News posted to X.
“Amy Commie Barrett.”
By a 5-4 vote, the court rejected an emergency appeal from the Republican administration, while also telling U.S. District Judge Amir Ali to clarify his earlier order that required the quick release of nearly $2 billion in aid for work that had already been done.
Although the outcome is a short-term loss for Trump’s administration, the nonprofit groups and businesses that sued are still waiting for the money they say they are owed. Organizations in the U.S. and around the world have cut services and laid off thousands of workers as a result.
HIAS, one of the nonprofit groups in the case, said it was encouraged to see the Trump administration held accountable, but said it regretted “the irreparable damage that the Trump administration has already inflicted on our staff, the people we serve, and the reputation of the United States as a leader and a reliable partner.”
Justice Samuel Alito led four conservative justices in dissent, saying Ali lacks the authority to order the payments. Alito wrote that he is stunned the court is rewarding “an act of judicial hubris and imposes a $2 billion penalty on American taxpayers.
The court’s action leaves in place Ali’s temporary restraining order that had paused the spending freeze, Ali is holding a hearing Thursday to consider a more lasting pause.
The majority noted that the administration had not challenged Ali’s initial order, only the deadline, which in any event passed last week.
The court told Ali to “clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order, with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines.”
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, two conservatives, joined the three liberal justices to form a majority.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh joined Alito’s dissent.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
