A federal judge in the United States has temporarily blocked further cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ruling that its elimination by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, is likely unconstitutional.
The ruling orders President Donald Trump’s administration to restore access to emails and computers for all USAID employees, including those placed on administrative leave.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland rejected the Trump administration’s claim that Musk is merely an advisor to the president. The court found that Musk had “firm control over DOGE,” citing a social media post in which he wrote that he had “sent USAID to the wood chipper.”
Judge Chuang acknowledged that USAID is likely no longer capable of performing some of its statutory functions.
“The combination of these facts supports the conclusion that USAID has been essentially eliminated,” he said in his ruling.
The lawsuit was filed by USAID employees and contractors, arguing that Musk and DOGE are usurping powers that, under the Constitution, belong only to elected officials or those confirmed by the Senate. Their lawyers called the ruling a significant step toward halting or reversing many of the moves to shut down USAID.
The Trump administration has previously argued that DOGE investigates and eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse at government agencies, in line with the campaign that helped Trump win reelection in 2024. The White House and DOGE did not immediately comment on the court’s decision.
In February, the Trump administration placed nearly all of USAID’s employees worldwide on leave and notified at least 1,600 U.S. workers that they would be laid off. The goal was to completely dismantle the six-decade-old agency, including its humanitarian and development programs abroad.
On the first day of his new term, Trump signed an executive order freezing foreign aid and initiating a review of all U.S. aid and development programs, arguing that much of the funding was wasteful and promoted a liberal agenda.
The lawsuit was filed by the State Democracy Defenders Fund, and its president, Norm Eisen, called the ruling “a milestone in the fight against DOGE” and the first court decision to confirm that Musk’s actions violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.
“They are operating with a chainsaw instead of a scalpel, damaging not only the people USAID helps, but also the stability of the U.S. government,” Eisen said.
