The Supreme Court has stepped in to pause a federal judge’s order that would have forced the Trump administration to release $2 billion in foreign aid payments by midnight.
The temporary decision, issued by Chief Justice John Roberts on Feb. 26, came just hours before the administration’s deadline to comply with the order.
The ruling follows an emergency appeal from the administration, which argued that U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s directive imposed an “untenable payment plan” that disregarded the President’s authority to manage foreign aid.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris called the court-ordered timeline “chaotic” and warned that it left the government scrambling to meet an artificial deadline with no regard for actual payment schedules or administrative review.
The legal battle over these aid payments stems from the Trump administration’s broader effort to overhaul U.S. foreign assistance.
Since taking office, President Trump has made it clear that American taxpayer dollars should not be wasted on inefficient overseas programs. In line with this vision, the administration recently announced cuts—eliminating more than 90% of USAID’s contracts and slashing $60 billion in overall foreign aid.
Officials have framed these reductions as part of a necessary reset, citing decades of unchecked spending and institutional drift.
The White House’s moves have faced fierce resistance from advocacy groups and government contractors that rely on USAID funding.
Earlier this month, Judge Ali sided with these groups, issuing a temporary restraining order that required USAID and the State Department to restore funding for contracts that had been frozen since Trump’s inauguration.
When the administration did not immediately comply, Ali set a strict deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 26, triggering the Supreme Court appeal.
The administration argues that it is well within its rights to re-evaluate how foreign aid is distributed, especially as part of a broader commitment to an “America First” policy.
The President has long criticized foreign aid as a giveaway that does little to benefit American taxpayers. Allies like Elon Musk have backed efforts to curb spending on programs they argue promote a liberal agenda.
While the Supreme Court’s ruling offers temporary relief, the fight is far from over. The groups challenging Trump’s cuts must submit their response by noon on Friday, meaning the pause on the order could be short-lived.
Still, for now, the administration has won crucial breathing room as it continues its push to reshape U.S. foreign aid policy.