WASHINGTON – Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily retained the Trump administration’s decision to freeze nearly $5 billion in foreign aid on Tuesday.
Roberts took action amid the administration’s urgent call to the Supreme Court, which involved billions of dollars in Congress’ approval of aid. President Donald Trump said last month that he wouldn’t spend money, citing controversial authority that the president last used about 50 years ago.
The order of the High Court is temporary, although this suggests that the judge will revoke the lower court’s ruling that the withholding of funds may be illegal. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled last week that Congress must approve the decision to withhold funds.
Trump told House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.
He used the so-called pocket evacuation. At that time, the president submitted a request to Congress at the end of the current budget year to not spend approved money. Late notice means Congress cannot act as required in the required 45-day window, and the money is not resolved.
A iconic policy of foreign aid by the Trump administration has significantly reduced, although savings relative to deficits are relatively meager, and losses to the U.S. foreign reputation as foreign populations lose their chances of access to food supplies and development programs. A group of federal appeal judges refused to block Ali’s ruling and the government turned to the High Court.
Justice Department lawyers told federal judges last month that another $6.5 billion in aid would be spent before the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
The case has been circling in the court for several months, and Ali said he knew his ruling would not be the last word in the matter.
“The case raises huge questions of legal and practical importance, including whether there is any way to test the executive’s decision not to spend the funds allocated to Congress,” he wrote.
In August, the U.S. District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals filed an earlier injunction from Ali to demand the cost of the money. But the panel of three judges did not close the lawsuit.
After Trump issued the revocation notice, the plaintiff returned to Ali Court and the judge issued the order now challenged.
