A United States judge on Friday, February 21, gave President Donald Trump’s administration the leeway to put thousands of US Agency for International Development (USAID) workers on compulsory leave.
The ruling followed a conservatory order issued by the court last week, which temporarily paused the US government’s freeze on foreign aid until the matter was heard and determined.
According to Reuters, Judge Carl Nicols lifted a temporary restraining order he had issued at the outset of the case and refused to issue a longer-term order to stop the USAID employees from job termination.
While making the ruling, the judge expressed satisfaction with the US government’s freeze on foreign aid and Trump’s assurance that foreign employees working under USAID would be protected by his administration until the end of the compulsory leave.
Meanwhile, in its petition challenging Trump’s executive order, the employees argued that Trump’s administration violated the US Constitution by shutting down an agency created and funded by Congress.
The USAID employees, through their representatives, also accused Trump of what they termed an effort by the US government to dismantle and get rid of the foreign aid agency.
Speaking moments after the ruling, the representatives of the employees expressed their dissatisfaction with the judgment but exuded confidence in restoring the programme in the future.
"We are disappointed in today's decision and believe the harms faced by USAID workers are real. We remain confident that the courts will find the administration's efforts to decimate USAID contrary to law," said Skye Perryman, a representative of the USAID employees.
The ruling comes as a major setback for thousands of Kenyans employed under the humanitarian programme whose future has now been plunged into a state of uncertainty.
Among the critical initiatives set to be impacted by the foreign aid freeze is the supply of drugs for HIV/AIDS patients who heavily rely on crucial medicines to stay healthy.
The latest court ruling comes a month after President Trump signed an executive order suspending foreign aid for 90 days to ensure it aligned with his “America First” policy.
Addressing Americans during his inauguration ceremony on January 20, Trump said his administration would no longer assist countries in a manner that is not fully aligned with the US government's foreign policy.
"All department and agency heads with responsibility for United States foreign development assistance programs shall immediately pause new obligations and disbursements of development assistance funds to foreign countries," Trump said.
