The only thing standing in the way of Trump’s agenda is the courts. Now it’s all coming to a head.
Because Chief Justice John Roberts took Trump by surprise with one massive ruling.
On Wednesday, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halted a federal judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to release $2 billion in foreign aid payments to contractors by midnight.
The decision came in response to an emergency request from the Trump administration, which argued that complying with the order would be impossible within the given timeframe.
Trump Administration Pushes Back Against Payment Order
The administration sought urgent intervention after U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali mandated the release of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds. Officials argued that meeting the judge’s deadline was unrealistic and claimed the order overstepped the president’s authority.
In its filing to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration criticized the ruling, stating it had created:
“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 judgments about foreign aid – clear forms of irreparable harm.”
The pause ordered by Justice Roberts may be short-lived, however. Any response from the groups challenging the administration is due before Friday at 12 p.m., after which the Court could decide to lift or extend the hold.
Deep Cuts to USAID Contracts Revealed
The Trump administration also revealed plans to eliminate over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and slash $60 billion in U.S. assistance worldwide. This disclosure puts hard figures on what the administration describes as an effort to curtail the majority of American development and humanitarian aid abroad.
The sweeping cuts would leave only a small number of USAID projects intact—leaving advocates scrambling to save those programs through ongoing legal challenges.
The memo from the administration defended the cuts, claiming that officials were:
“Clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift.”
It further noted that additional reforms are on the horizon to streamline how USAID and the State Department deliver foreign aid, emphasizing that the goal is:
“To use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests.”
Trump and Musk Lead Charge Against Foreign Aid
President Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk, have been particularly aggressive in their efforts to shrink the federal government, with foreign aid emerging as a primary target. Both have argued that USAID projects promote a liberal agenda and represent wasteful spending.
Their efforts mark a dramatic departure from decades of U.S. foreign policy, which traditionally viewed foreign aid as a tool to stabilize global economies, build alliances, and advance American interests abroad.
Emergency Appeals to the Supreme Court
The foreign aid case is not the first time the Trump administration has sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court. In a separate case, the administration argued that a lower court was wrong to reinstate the head of a federal watchdog agency after Trump fired him.
With the latest pause in the foreign aid battle, the Supreme Court may soon face yet another high-stakes decision in the ongoing legal clashes over the scope of presidential authority.
