The US Supreme Court granted permission to the Trump administration on Friday to temporarily halt over $4 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress. In a ruling dominated by conservative justices, the court determined that supporting the president’s authority in foreign relations outweighed any potential harm to the aid recipients. This emergency order does not serve as a final decision on the case but allows a temporary suspension of fund disbursement while the legal process continues in lower courts.
Three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Elena Kagan emphasizing the high significance of the case involving the balance of power between the Executive and Congress in public spending. Kagan expressed concern over the decision’s swift issuance without comprehensive review, oral arguments, or deliberation. She highlighted that the consequence of the order permits the Executive to halt the allocation of $4 billion meant for foreign aid, which may never reach its intended beneficiaries, thus challenging the separation of powers.
Since assuming office in January, President Donald Trump has aimed to increase control over government spending and assigned Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, to streamline sections of the US government. Notably, the administration targeted USAID, a key agency responsible for disbursing US humanitarian aid globally, including health and emergency initiatives in approximately 120 nations.