Summary
A federal judge ruled that Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by freezing USAID funding, stating Congress controls spending authority.
Judge Amir Ali ordered Trump officials to pay all of the roughly $2 billion it owed to aid groups and businesses but stopped short of ordering the reviving of the thousands of contracts abruptly terminated for U.S. aid and development work around the world.
Secretary of State Rubio announced the end of a six-week review resulting in elimination of 83% of USAID programs (5,200 of 6,200), with remaining programs transferred to the State Department.
Former USAID Administrator Natsios questioned what programs the administration actually supports, noting cuts to democracy, civil society, health, and emergency response initiatives.
Isn’t the issue that regardless of the rule of law, Trump can always appeal, and the supreme court can grant a writ of certiorari to hear the appeal. So if the supreme court is corrupt enough then anything goes?
I’m not American, so I might be misunderstanding how the appeals process works.
I suppose this’d still be true with or without that previous ruling as well, but it does seem lay groundwork for further expansion, and the SC probably would want their rulings to look somewhat plausible so the lower courts don’t rebel en masse.
Make them do it. Don’t assume in advance that he’s a fully empowered dictator. We want the corruption and devolution of democracy to be spelled out clearly for everyone to see, not just assumed.