The United States Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump’s administration in a 5-4 decision, preventing it from withholding payments to foreign aid organizations. The March 5th ruling upheld U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s order, which required the prompt release of nearly $2 billion in funds for work already completed under contracts with the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision dealt a blow to Trump’s broader efforts to curtail American humanitarian aid worldwide.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal members in rejecting the administration’s request to continue freezing the funds. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, with Alito expressing shock at the ruling. “Does a single district court judge…have the unchecked power to compel the government of the United States to pay out $2 billion in taxpayer dollars?” he wrote, calling the court’s decision stunning. Despite the ruling, the court did not set a strict timeline for compliance.
The legal dispute began after Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid on January 20, 2025, as part of his “America First” agenda. His administration later froze additional payments, prompting lawsuits from multiple aid organizations, including the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, Journalism Development Network, and HIAS. These groups argued that withholding funds violated federal law and Congressional authority while jeopardizing life-saving aid for millions of people in conflict zones and disease-stricken regions.
Judge Amir Ali originally set a deadline of February 26 for the administration to release the funds. However, Trump’s legal team filed an emergency appeal, and Chief Justice Roberts temporarily paused the enforcement order. The Supreme Court’s decision now reinstates Ali’s ruling but directs the lower court to clarify how the government should proceed with payments. A new hearing is scheduled for March 10th to address compliance details.
The administration contends that meeting Ali’s deadline is impractical, citing the need for additional time to review invoices and confirm payment legitimacy. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued that the ruling unlawfully commandeers federal payment processes and creates an artificial urgency. However, aid organizations warned that continued delays would cause “extraordinary and irreversible harm” to their operations and those they serve.
Trump’s policy shift has significantly disrupted global humanitarian efforts, halting food, medical, and refugee assistance programs. As his administration sends termination notices to aid groups, critics argue that the U.S. withdrawal from international relief efforts could have long-term geopolitical consequences. With the Supreme Court’s decision, the administration faces increasing legal pressure to comply, though further disputes over implementation are expected in the coming weeks.
