Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday granted the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court ruling that required $4 billion in foreign aid to be distributed by the end of the month. The temporary order, known as an administrative stay, gives the Supreme Court more time to consider the case and requires challengers to respond by Friday.
The ruling may complicate efforts by the groups that sued to access the funds Congress had approved. The dispute centers on foreign aid funds approved by Congress but targeted by President Trump, who has long sought to reduce such spending. Earlier this year, a federal judge mostly sided with Trump but ultimately ruled that withholding the money without congressional approval was unconstitutional, a decision upheld by the D.C. Circuit.
The administration argued that being forced to release the funds undermines the president’s authority in foreign affairs. Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the court that the district court’s order compelled the executive branch to act against its own policies.
The funds in question are tied to global health and HIV/AIDS programs administered through the State Department and USAID. The administration said it plans to release $6.5 billion by September 30 but wants to block the additional $4 billion.
