Lawsuit filed against Trump administration for USAID restrictions
The US president plans to reduce the workforce at the agency to fewer than 300 employees, down from over 10,000, as reported by Reuters. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The US president plans to retain fewer than 300 employees from the more than 10,000 at the agency, according to sources speaking to Reuters.
The largest union representing US government workers and an organization of foreign service employees have filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump. This legal action aims to thwart efforts to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which serves as Washington's main instrument for funding political initiatives abroad.
According to sources, the White House's decision to reduce USAID's staff comes despite the agency's $60 billion budget in 2023. Trump has previously criticized USAID, labeling it “a criminal organization” run by “radical lunatics,” alleging it was involved in funding bioweapons research and used its resources to secure favorable media portrayals of the Democratic Party.
The lawsuit was initiated in a federal court in Washington, DC, on Thursday by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association, which described the administration's actions against USAID as “unconstitutional and illegal.”
The complaint highlights Trump's order issued on his inauguration day to suspend all US foreign aid for 90 days, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's subsequent halt of USAID operations worldwide, arguing that these moves have led to a “global humanitarian crisis.”
The lawsuit lists the president and the State and Treasury Departments as defendants.
The plaintiffs assert that Trump does not possess the authority to eliminate USAID, given that it was created by a law enacted by Congress in 1998.
“Not a single one of defendants’ actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization. And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs seek a temporary and ultimately permanent court order to reinstate funding for USAID, reopen its offices, and block any further attempts by the Trump administration to disband the agency.
On Wednesday, hundreds of current and former employees rallied in Washington against Trump's plans for USAID, displaying signs that echoed messages such as “USAID saves lives,” “Stop the coup,” and “Save our democracy.” Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Mark Warner and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Representative John Garamendi, were present to speak to the demonstrators.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is overseeing the dismantling of USAID as the head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, commented on X earlier this week that the agency “is a ball of worms. There is no apple. And when there is no apple, you have just got to basically get rid of the whole thing.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
The largest union representing US government workers and an organization of foreign service employees have filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump. This legal action aims to thwart efforts to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which serves as Washington's main instrument for funding political initiatives abroad.
According to sources, the White House's decision to reduce USAID's staff comes despite the agency's $60 billion budget in 2023. Trump has previously criticized USAID, labeling it “a criminal organization” run by “radical lunatics,” alleging it was involved in funding bioweapons research and used its resources to secure favorable media portrayals of the Democratic Party.
The lawsuit was initiated in a federal court in Washington, DC, on Thursday by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association, which described the administration's actions against USAID as “unconstitutional and illegal.”
The complaint highlights Trump's order issued on his inauguration day to suspend all US foreign aid for 90 days, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's subsequent halt of USAID operations worldwide, arguing that these moves have led to a “global humanitarian crisis.”
The lawsuit lists the president and the State and Treasury Departments as defendants.
The plaintiffs assert that Trump does not possess the authority to eliminate USAID, given that it was created by a law enacted by Congress in 1998.
“Not a single one of defendants’ actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization. And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs seek a temporary and ultimately permanent court order to reinstate funding for USAID, reopen its offices, and block any further attempts by the Trump administration to disband the agency.
On Wednesday, hundreds of current and former employees rallied in Washington against Trump's plans for USAID, displaying signs that echoed messages such as “USAID saves lives,” “Stop the coup,” and “Save our democracy.” Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Mark Warner and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Representative John Garamendi, were present to speak to the demonstrators.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is overseeing the dismantling of USAID as the head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, commented on X earlier this week that the agency “is a ball of worms. There is no apple. And when there is no apple, you have just got to basically get rid of the whole thing.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
