Supreme Court allows Trump admin freeze of $4b in foreign aid

In a significant development, the US Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily halt the disbursement of over $4 billion in foreign aid funds appropriated by Congress. The decision, issued on Friday, underscores the ongoing tension between the Executive and Legislative branches over the control of federal spending. The conservative-majority court emphasized that the president’s authority in foreign affairs appears to outweigh the potential harm to the intended recipients of the aid. However, the court clarified that this emergency order does not represent a final ruling on the case’s merits but merely allows for a temporary freeze while the matter is litigated in lower courts. The three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Elena Kagan arguing that the decision undermines the separation of powers by enabling the Executive branch to unilaterally withhold funds allocated by Congress. Kagan highlighted the lack of thorough deliberation, noting that the order was issued without extensive briefing, oral arguments, or conference discussions. The funds in question are part of USAID’s global humanitarian efforts, which support health and emergency programs in approximately 120 countries. Since taking office, President Trump has sought to exert greater control over federal spending, even enlisting billionaire Elon Musk to assist in downsizing government operations. This case raises critical questions about the balance of power between the Executive and Congress in managing public expenditures.