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A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting the Trump administration's plan to place thousands of USAID workers on administrative leave amid allegations of corruption and fraud. The American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, representing the workers, argued that the administration's actions were unconstitutional and would cripple USAID's operations. The judge will further review the case and determine the future of the leave order for the 500 workers who have already been placed on leave.
A federal judge on Friday paused the Trump administration's plan to place thousands of workers at the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID) on administrative leave. The American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, representing federal workers, had asked the judge to order the Trump administration to halt its efforts to 'shut down' USAID. Approximately 2,200 USAID employees were scheduled to be placed on leave Friday night at 11:59 p.m.
ET, as part of President Trump's initiative to address alleged corruption and fraud within the agency. Five hundred USAID workers are already on administrative leave, a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice said in court. Judge Carl Nichols delivered the ruling after hearing arguments from the Trump administration and the workers' groups in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The workers' groups argued in a court filing earlier Friday that USAID 'is suffering an onslaught of unconstitutional and illegal attacks, leaving its workers, contractors, grantees, and beneficiaries deserted in the wreckage and a global humanitarian crisis in the wake.' They claimed the Trump administration 'has deliberately dismantled USAID's infrastructure' and is 'poised for a near-final killing blow.' Nichols said Friday afternoon that he would be entering a 'very limited' temporary restraining order before midnight directed at the 2,200 at-risk USAID workers. The judge said he has yet to decide if his ruling will rescind the Trump administration's take-leave order for the 500 employees who have already received it. During the hearing, Nichols questioned DOJ attorney Brett Shumate about why the Trump administration needed to place 2,200 USAID workers on leave so quickly. 'The President has decided there is corruption and fraud at USAID,' Shumate replied.
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