The Americas' Affairs
- Mar 21, 2024
- 860
- 240
- Origin
- Residence
- Axis Group
The top judge in the United States has given temporary backing to the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid payments.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' intervention came as the administration faced a midnight deadline (05:00 GMT on Thursday) to pay contractors.
Officials had argued that they could not process the payments within the timeframe set by a lower court judge.
Since coming to power in January, US President Donald Trump has taken quick action to end many aid programmes, largely run by the US Agency for International Development, USAID, and placed most of its staff on administrative leave or sacked them.
The Trump administration is seeking to shrink the federal workforce and cut costs in a drive led by Elon Musk.
The billionaire Trump adviser asked millions of bureaucrats over the weekend to list their accomplishments from the past week - sparking fury amongst the workforce and disagreement with officials leading the departments.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' intervention came as the administration faced a midnight deadline (05:00 GMT on Thursday) to pay contractors.
Officials had argued that they could not process the payments within the timeframe set by a lower court judge.
Since coming to power in January, US President Donald Trump has taken quick action to end many aid programmes, largely run by the US Agency for International Development, USAID, and placed most of its staff on administrative leave or sacked them.
The Trump administration is seeking to shrink the federal workforce and cut costs in a drive led by Elon Musk.
The billionaire Trump adviser asked millions of bureaucrats over the weekend to list their accomplishments from the past week - sparking fury amongst the workforce and disagreement with officials leading the departments.
