A U.S. District Court judge recently mandated the Trump administration to pay a portion of nearly $2 billion in foreign aid owed to completed projects. This decision was made during a court hearing on Thursday, just a day after the Supreme Court denied an appeal from the administration to maintain its freeze on these funds.
Judge Amir Ali presided over the hearing, which lasted for more than four hours. He questioned both sides regarding their repayment strategies and set a deadline for the administration to pay at least part of the $1.9 billion by 6 p.m. on Monday. “I believe it’s fair to ensure that the plaintiffs receive payment for completed work by this time,” Judge Ali stated.
The judge had previously set a deadline of February 26 for the administration to settle its debts, but during Thursday’s hearing, he rejected the Justice Department’s claims that meeting this timeline was unfeasible. An attorney for the Justice Department requested additional time for processing the payments, referencing potential challenges over the weekend. However, Judge Ali pointed out that the government had successfully processed over $70 million within a short time frame earlier that week, suggesting that the required payments were achievable.
Throughout the hearing, the judge emphasized that the previous deadline had already passed and reminded the court that the Supreme Court tasked him with determining the specifics of how and when the government must repay this debt.
With the high court’s recent 5-4 decision returning the case to Judge Ali, he quickly arranged for both parties to reconsider plausible repayment timelines Thursday. Discussions included the Trump administration’s handling of foreign aid contracts and grants, with some plaintiffs arguing that the administration had rushed to terminate these agreements without due process.
The administration has previously put a freeze on foreign aid in an effort to improve government efficiency and cut unnecessary spending, with President Trump aiming to reduce USAID contracts significantly.
While the Trump administration contends that the plaintiffs’ claims may be valid, they argue that the timeline set for repayments is unrealistic. Conversely, the plaintiffs claim that the swift actions taken by the administration to overhaul the payment systems hampered the process and contributed to the difficulties they faced in receiving their funds.
As the case develops, it may escalate back to the Supreme Court, putting further scrutiny on the administration’s approach to foreign aid and its obligations.
