Appeals court lets Trump freeze foreign aid, threatening recipient countries
A federal appeals court on Wednesday cleared the way for the Trump administration to suspend or cancel billions in congressionally approved foreign aid, overturning a lower court injunction that had required the payments to continue.
The ruling is a legal victory for President Donald Trump, giving his administration greater control over foreign aid disbursements.
In a 2-1 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that two nonprofit groups, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Journalism Development Network, lacked standing to challenge the freeze.
Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, writing for the majority, said the plaintiffs failed to meet the legal requirements for an injunction. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas joined Henderson in the decision.
The case arose after President Trump issued an executive order on January 20, the first day of his second term, pausing spending on foreign aid, including nearly USD 10 billion for global health and HIV/AIDS programs. Trump argued that the funding conflicted with his administration's foreign policy goals.
Judge Florence Pan, a Democratic appointee, dissented, warning that the ruling allowed the executive branch to bypass constitutional checks and balances and undermined the separation of powers.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the decision, stating that the Justice Department "will continue to successfully protect core Presidential authorities from judicial overreach."
Impact on recipient countries:
The ruling gives the president broad authority to control US foreign aid, creating uncertainty for countries and programs that rely on this funding. Humanitarian programs, such as health, education, and disaster relief, could face delays or reductions.
Governments and NGOs may struggle to plan budgets or long-term projects due to unpredictable funding.
The decision also increases the risk that US aid could be used as a political tool, potentially straining diplomatic relations with countries expecting consistent support.
