Chief Justice John Roberts Halts Court Order Requiring Trump Administration to Release $2 Billion in Foreign Aid

By A Staff Reporter

Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday temporarily blocked a lower court’s order that would have forced the Trump administration to release $2 billion in frozen foreign aid by midnight. The administration had argued that meeting the court-imposed deadline was impossible, prompting an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.

The case marks one of the first major legal battles between President Donald Trump’s administration and the judiciary over his efforts to reshape federal spending. Trump has sought to consolidate executive power by making sweeping budget cuts, including withholding foreign aid that was previously approved by Congress.

Roberts’ decision does not settle the broader legal questions surrounding the case but instead grants an “administrative stay” to allow the Supreme Court time to review arguments. As the justice responsible for handling emergency appeals from Washington, D.C., Roberts will oversee the next steps in the case.

The Trump administration’s appeal came just hours before the midnight deadline set by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, who was nominated by President Joe Biden. Ali had ordered the immediate release of the frozen funds while the lawsuit over Trump’s spending cuts continued. However, the administration claimed it would need “multiple weeks” to comply, calling the deadline “impossible.”

“The district court’s imminent and arbitrary deadline makes full compliance impossible,” acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in the appeal, defending the administration’s stance.

The legal fight underscores ongoing tensions between Trump and the judiciary. His administration has been accused of selectively complying with court rulings, and the Supreme Court’s decision on this case could have significant implications for executive power. Meanwhile, groups that sued to restore the aid argue that political appointees within the administration are deliberately blocking payments.

A key issue in the case is whether the order to release the funds is even appealable. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit previously ruled that the Trump administration could not challenge the lower court’s enforcement order, a position that may complicate the government’s argument as the case progresses.