U.S. Supreme Court upholds foreign aid ruling against Trump
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected, by a 5-4 vote, the Trump administration's request to block a lower court ruling requiring the payment of nearly $2 billion in foreign aid from USAID funds for projects already completed.
This decision was one of the first major blows to the second Trump administration, as reported by The Insider, citing Forbes.
The Trump administration described the ruling as an "extraordinary usurpation of presidential authority," but the court, including Republican Chief Justice John Roberts and Republican Judge Amy Coney Barrett—appointed by Trump during his first term—upheld the lower court's decision.
The ruling orders the administration to release funds that were previously withheld as part of a broader freeze on foreign aid.
Fox News reports that a new court filing by Acting U.S. Attorney General Sarah Harris argues that implementing the ruling could violate the president's authority over foreign affairs.
The Trump administration's decision raised concerns among many foreign aid organizations and contractors, who lost most of their funding due to Trump’s plans to cut about 90% of USAID contracts and an additional $60 billion in foreign aid spending, according to The Insider.
It is noted that on January 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending most U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days to reassess them and ensure they aligned with his foreign policy.
U.S. aid to the Republic of Moldova was primarily channeled through USAID, which financially supported projects in the country focusing on viticulture, energy efficiency, infrastructure, and education. Experts stress that the Republic of Moldova must find new sources of funding to continue these projects, as they have been put on hold by the United States.
The U.S. has invested more than one billion dollars in the Republic of Moldova.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
