Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE Cuts to USAID Agency

Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE Cuts to USAID Agency \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A federal judge blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from further dismantling USAID. The court ruled Musk’s actions likely violated the Constitution, requiring restored access for agency employees. The case marks significant legal pushback against the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts.

Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE Cuts to USAID — Quick Looks

• Federal judge halts further dismantling of USAID by Elon Musk’s DOGE.
• Musk’s control over DOGE deemed unconstitutional under the Appointments Clause.
• The order restores email and computer access to all USAID employees.
• The Trump administration placed thousands of USAID workers on administrative leave.
• The court did not reverse firings but prevented additional cuts.
• Musk publicly boasted of “feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”
• DOGE’s efforts were part of Trump’s campaign to cut foreign aid.
• USAID lawsuit argues Musk exercised power without electoral or Senate approval.
• Norm Eisen called the ruling a major constitutional milestone.
• The White House and DOGE have not responded to the court ruling.

Deep Look

A federal judge on Tuesday delivered a decisive blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ruling that actions by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) likely violated the Constitution. In response, Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland issued an indefinite injunction preventing DOGE from making any further cuts to USAID, signaling a major legal setback for the administration’s attempt to scale back foreign aid.

The ruling also mandates that the administration immediately restore email and computer access for all USAID employees, including those previously placed on administrative leave. However, it falls short of reversing personnel firings or fully reinstating the agency’s operations. The court’s intervention highlights mounting concerns about overreach by unelected individuals exerting governmental power without constitutional authority.

The case represents one of the first lawsuits targeting Musk personally, challenging his influential role in DOGE. The Trump administration had attempted to defend Musk as merely an advisor to the president. However, Judge Chuang rejected this claim, citing Musk’s direct control over DOGE and his public statements. In one particularly damning example, Musk posted on social media that he had “fed USAID into the wood chipper,” an indication, according to the court, of his hands-on involvement and disregard for the agency’s purpose and legal standing.

The judge acknowledged that USAID may no longer be capable of fulfilling some of its statutory duties, concluding that the actions of DOGE and Musk have “effectively eliminated” the decades-old foreign aid agency. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by USAID employees and contractors, who argued that Musk and DOGE were exercising powers constitutionally reserved for elected officials or Senate-confirmed appointees.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs described the ruling as a powerful check against the administration’s overreach, stating it “effectively halts or reverses” many actions taken by DOGE to dismantle the agency. The broader implications go beyond USAID, touching on questions about the balance of power, the role of non-elected officials, and the limits of executive authority.

The Trump administration, alongside Musk and DOGE, has claimed that the department’s mission is to root out waste, fraud, and abuse within federal programs — a core message of Trump’s successful 2024 reelection campaign. The White House and DOGE have not yet responded to the court’s decision.

The attempted dismantling of USAID began soon after Trump’s second inauguration. In February, the administration placed most of USAID’s global workforce on administrative leave and issued termination notices to approximately 1,600 U.S.-based staffers. This aggressive move was part of a larger strategy to eliminate U.S. foreign aid programs, long criticized by Trump and his allies as vehicles for wasteful spending and promotion of liberal international agendas.

On his first day back in office, Trump issued an executive order freezing foreign assistance funding and ordering a comprehensive review of all U.S. foreign aid and development work. The executive order charged that large portions of this aid were misused and misaligned with the administration’s America First policies.

The lawsuit challenging these actions was spearheaded by the State Democracy Defenders Fund, a watchdog organization focused on defending democratic norms. Norm Eisen, the nonprofit’s executive chair, celebrated the ruling as a landmark legal victory. He argued that Musk’s role in DOGE constitutes a blatant violation of the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which mandates Senate confirmation for public officials entrusted with significant authority.

Eisen warned that the administration’s efforts resembled “performing surgery with a chainsaw instead of a scalpel,” with consequences not just for the people USAID serves globally, but for the stability of the U.S. government itself. The attempt to gut USAID, he emphasized, damages the government’s credibility, weakens humanitarian partnerships, and undermines America’s influence abroad.

The judge’s decision does not fully undo the damage done, and USAID’s ability to recover remains uncertain. While employee systems access will be restored, the loss of personnel and the broader dismantling efforts have left the agency severely crippled. The administration has not indicated whether it will comply without contest or seek an appeal.

For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that even powerful individuals and influential advisors cannot override constitutional checks and balances. As the Trump administration and Musk consider their next steps, legal experts predict more constitutional challenges may emerge, particularly around the scope of DOGE’s authority and the future of foreign aid programs in the U.S.

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